ISSN 2542–0380
Труды Института механики им. Р.Р. Мавлютова
Электронный научный журнал | Electronic Scientific Journal
Proceedings of the Mavlyutov Institute of Mechanics


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Timirov Yu.I., Gareeva E.R., Scaldin O.A. Topological transformations on the droplets in chiral nematic liquid crystals with developed electroconvection Proceedings of the Mavlyutov Institute of Mechanics. 9 (2012) 2. 123–129.
2012. Vol. 9. Issue 2, Pp. 123–129
URL: http://proc.uimech.org/uim2012.2.062,en
DOI: 10.21662/uim2012.2.062
Topological transformations on the droplets in chiral nematic liquid crystals with developed electroconvection
Timirov Yu.I., Gareeva E.R., Scaldin O.A
(none)

Abstract

The dynamics and transformations of defects in chiral nematic droplets P in the electric field are studied experimentally, as function of the ratio of the droplet radius R to the helix pitch P. It is shown that, depending on the R/P ratio and the applied voltage, various orientation-structural transformations can be realized. In particular, for the ratio R/P<1 only droplets with one destroyed boojum are observed. The application of an a.c. electric voltage causes the latter to rotate. In the case of R/P~1, the dynamics of the rotation of the disclination line is transform into a periodic decay of the boojum (with a topological index S=1) into two surface defects. In the case R/P>1, a process of merging two surface defects with a topological index 1/2 into a bulk defect of the ”hedgehog“ type with S=1 is observed. The mechanisms of the observed processes are discussed.