Reconfiguration of nematic disclinations in plane-parallel confinementsHarkai, Saša (Avtor) Rosenblatt, Charles (Avtor) Kralj, Samo (Avtor) liquid crystalstopological defectsdisclinationsreconfigurationWe study numerically the reconfiguration process of colliding |m|=1/2 strength disclinations in an achiral nematic liquid crystal (NLC). A Landau–de Gennes approach in terms of tensor nematic-order parameters is used. Initially, different pairs {m1,m2} of parallel wedge disclination lines connecting opposite substrates confining the NLC in a plane-parallel cell of a thickness h are imposed: {1/2,1/2}, {−1/2,−1/2} and {−1/2,1/2}. The collisions are imposed by the relative rotation of the azimuthal angle θ of the substrates that strongly pin the defect end points. Pairs {1/2,1/2} and {−1/2,−1/2} “rewire” at the critical angle θ(1)c=3π/4 in all cases studied. On the other hand, two qualitatively different scenarios are observed for {−1/2,1/2}. In the thinner film regime ℎ<ℎc, the disclinations rewire at θ(2)c=5π/4. The rewiring process is mediated by an additional chargeless loop nucleated in the middle of the cell. In the regime ℎ>ℎc, the colliding disclinations at θ(2)c reconfigure into boojum-like twist disclinations.MDPI20232024-03-28 08:15:08Članek v reviji87754sl