Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring

We investigate numerically the lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring. Our study is based on the Landau-de Gennes continuum theory in which the orientational order of the liquid crystal is described by a second-rank tensor. W...

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Main Authors: Jun-ichi Fukuda (福田順一), Slobodan Žumer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2020-09-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033407
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author Jun-ichi Fukuda (福田順一)
Slobodan Žumer
author_facet Jun-ichi Fukuda (福田順一)
Slobodan Žumer
author_sort Jun-ichi Fukuda (福田順一)
collection DOAJ
description We investigate numerically the lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring. Our study is based on the Landau-de Gennes continuum theory in which the orientational order of the liquid crystal is described by a second-rank tensor. We particularly focus on blue phase I (BP I) with its (110) plane parallel to the surfaces, and blue phase II (BP II) with its (100) plane parallel to the surfaces. In the former case, the angle between the direction of unidirectional anchoring and the [11[over ¯]0] axis of the BP I lattice is ≃38.5^{∘}, insensitive to the anchoring strength, and consistent with the experimental finding for a cooling process [Takahashi et al., J. Phys. D 51, 104003 (2018)JPAPBE0022-372710.1088/1361-6463/aaaa4b]. In the latter case, the [100] axis of the BP II lattice makes an angle of 45.0^{∘} with the direction of unidirectional anchoring. Unidirectional anchoring of strength on the order of 1×10^{−5}Jm^{−2} is sufficient enough to lock the orientation of the blue phase lattice.
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spelling doaj.art-954423498e98481292dfea9b2a0c68ea2024-04-12T17:00:29ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-09-012303340710.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033407Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoringJun-ichi Fukuda (福田順一)Slobodan ŽumerWe investigate numerically the lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring. Our study is based on the Landau-de Gennes continuum theory in which the orientational order of the liquid crystal is described by a second-rank tensor. We particularly focus on blue phase I (BP I) with its (110) plane parallel to the surfaces, and blue phase II (BP II) with its (100) plane parallel to the surfaces. In the former case, the angle between the direction of unidirectional anchoring and the [11[over ¯]0] axis of the BP I lattice is ≃38.5^{∘}, insensitive to the anchoring strength, and consistent with the experimental finding for a cooling process [Takahashi et al., J. Phys. D 51, 104003 (2018)JPAPBE0022-372710.1088/1361-6463/aaaa4b]. In the latter case, the [100] axis of the BP II lattice makes an angle of 45.0^{∘} with the direction of unidirectional anchoring. Unidirectional anchoring of strength on the order of 1×10^{−5}Jm^{−2} is sufficient enough to lock the orientation of the blue phase lattice.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033407
spellingShingle Jun-ichi Fukuda (福田順一)
Slobodan Žumer
Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
Physical Review Research
title Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
title_full Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
title_fullStr Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
title_full_unstemmed Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
title_short Lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
title_sort lattice orientation of cholesteric blue phases in contact with surfaces enforcing unidirectional planar anchoring
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033407
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AT slobodanzumer latticeorientationofcholestericbluephasesincontactwithsurfacesenforcingunidirectionalplanaranchoring