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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.

Authors

V. P. Panov

M. Nagaraj

J. K. Vij

Yu P. Panarin

Yu. P. Panarin

A. Kohlmeier

M. G. Tamba

R. A. Lewis



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., …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
Electronic ISSN 1079-7114
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