| Title: | Nano and micro-structural complexity of nematic liquid crystal configurations |
|---|
| Authors: | ID Jelen, Andreja (Author)
ID Zid, Maha (Author)
ID Pal, Kaushik (Author)
ID Renuka, Remya Rajan (Author)
ID Črešnar, Dejvid (Author)
ID Kralj, Samo (Author) |
|---|
| Files: |  RAZ_Jelen_Andreja_2024.pdf (9,33 MB)
MD5: 309BA3DD10619DC7D861E94D3B06CCA5
 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2024.126275
|
|---|
| Language: | English |
|---|
| Work type: | Scientific work |
|---|
| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
|---|
| Organization: | FNM - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
|
|---|
| Abstract: | Of our interest are frustration-driven pattern generating mechanisms in systems which in bulk equilibrium display spatially homogeneous long-range orientational order in absence of perturbations. As testbed material, we select thermotropic nematic liquid crystals. In bulk, they exhibit weakly discontinuous order-disorder phase transformation on varying temperature where the ordered nematic phase features spatially uniform axial order along an arbitrary symmetry breaking direction. However, due to continuous symmetry breaking (CSB) the established order is extremely susceptible to various perturbations which are in real systems in general always present. We theoretically illustrate how diverse complex patterns could be excited. Particularly intriguing configurations could appear if topological defects are present that could be generated via CSB. Our analysis is based on a relatively simple Lebwohl-Lasher-type model in which we could get analytical insight into phenomena of our interest. Using it we illustrate history dependent early stage isotropic-nematic phase evolution and final patterns in presence of "impurities" (e.g., nanoparticles). We show how characteristic effective interaction characteristics predict qualitatively different emerging patterns. Our analysis is based on CSB which is ubiquitous in nature. Consequently, demonstrated mechanisms are expected to manifest also in other condensed matter systems whose ordered phase is formed via CSB. We illustrate how kinetics and impurities could impact key structural properties of the systems of our interest. |
|---|
| Keywords: | continuous symmetry breaking, patterns, topological defects, nematic liquid crystals |
|---|
| Publication status: | Published |
|---|
| Publication version: | Version of Record |
|---|
| Submitted for review: | 02.08.2024 |
|---|
| Article acceptance date: | 14.10.2024 |
|---|
| Publication date: | 19.10.2024 |
|---|
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
|---|
| Year of publishing: | 2024 |
|---|
| Number of pages: | 9 str. |
|---|
| Numbering: | Letn. 415, del A, št. članka 126275 |
|---|
| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-91264  |
|---|
| UDC: | 532.783 |
|---|
| ISSN on article: | 0167-7322 |
|---|
| COBISS.SI-ID: | 217792259 |
|---|
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.molliq.2024.126275 |
|---|
| Publication date in DKUM: | 05.12.2024 |
|---|
| Views: | 167 |
|---|
| Downloads: | 24 |
|---|
| Metadata: |    |
|---|
| Categories: | Misc.
|
|---|
|
:
|
Copy citation |
|---|
| | | | Average score: | (0 votes) |
|---|
| Your score: | Voting is allowed only for logged in users. |
|---|
| Share: |  |
|---|
Hover the mouse pointer over a document title to show the abstract or click
on the title to get all document metadata. |
