Defect evolution in the smectic-A to nematic phase transition at undulated surfaces
ORAL
Abstract
In the presence of hybrid anchoring conditions, smectic-A (SmA) LCs form focal conic domain (FCD) defects to preserve equal spacing of their layers. Motivated by recent experimental findings on the assembly of FCDs at undulated surfaces, we computationally study the evolution of LC topological defects in the phase transition from the SmA to the nematic (N) phase. We examine how FCDs of nonzero eccentricity and spatially varying orientation transform into patterns of disclination lines which then relax. Using Landau-de Gennes free energy minimization, we determine the presence of metastable defect states at surfaces with 1D and 2D height undulations.
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Presenters
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Jane Bernadette Denise Garcia
University of California, Merced
Authors
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Jane Bernadette Denise Garcia
University of California, Merced
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Mackenzie O'Keefe
University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts, Boston
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Mohamed Amine Gharbi
University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts
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Daniel A Beller
University of California, Merced, University of California Merced, Department of Physics, University of California, Merced