Impact of nanoparticles on nematic ordering in square wellsSlavinec, Mitja (Avtor) Klemenčič, Eva (Avtor) Ambrožič, Milan (Avtor) Krašna, Marjan (Avtor) liquid crystalsnanoparticlesnematic orderingsquare wellsoftware simulationvisualizationNematic liquid crystalline structures within square wells are studied numerically using both Lebwohl-Lasher lattice semimicroscopic and the Landau-de Gennes mesoscopic approach. At lateral boundary wall strong planar anchoring is enforced. The cell thickness h along the z Cartesian coordinate is assumed to be smaller than the characteristic square well size R. Using semimicroscopic modelling we restrict to effectively two-dimensional systems which we study in terms of the tensor nematic order parameter. We consider impact of appropriate nanoparticles (NPs) on nematic configuration for cases where R becomes comparable to the biaxial order parameter correlation length. In this case a star-like order reconstruction biaxial profile could be formed in absence of NPs. We demonstrate existence of a rich variety of different nematic structures, including topological defects, which are enabled by presence of appropriate NPs.20152016-06-09 03:15:52Znanstveno delo60177sl