Spontaneous periodic deformations in nonchiral planar-aligned bimesogens with a nematic-nematic transition and a negative elastic constant

Panov, V. P.; Nagaraj, M.; Vij, J. K.; Panarin, Yu P.; Panarin, Yu. P.; Kohlmeier, A.; Tamba, M. G.; Lewis, R. A.; Mehl, G. H.

Abstract

Hydrocarbon linked mesogenic dimers are found to exhibit an additional nematic phase below the conventional uniaxial nematic phase as confirmed by x-ray diffraction. The phase produces unusual periodic stripe domains in planar cells. The stripes are found to be parallel to the rubbing direction (in rubbed cells) with a well-defined period equal to double the cell gap. The stripes appear without external electromagnetic field, temperature or thickness gradients, rubbing or hybrid alignment treatments. Simple modeling proposes a negative sign for at least one of the two elastic constants: splay and twist, as a necessary condition for the observed pattern.

Citation

Panov, V. P., Nagaraj, M., Vij, J. K., Panarin, Y. P., Kohlmeier, A., Tamba, M. G., Lewis, R. A., & Mehl, G. H. (2010). Spontaneous periodic deformations in nonchiral planar-aligned bimesogens with a nematic-nematic transition and a negative elastic constant. Physical review letters, 105(16), Article ARTN 167801. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.167801

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 17, 2010
• Online Publication Date: Oct 12, 2010
• Publication Date: Oct 12, 2010
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 105
• Issue: 16
• Article Number: ARTN 167801
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.167801
• Keywords: Liquid-crystals domains
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/462024
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.167801
• Contract Date: Nov 13, 2014