Flow-induced delayed Freedericksz transition

Mottram, N.J. , McKay, G., Brown, C.V., Russell, C.T., Sage, I.C. and Tsakonas, C. (2016) Flow-induced delayed Freedericksz transition. Physical Review E, 93(3), 030701(R). (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.93.030701)

Abstract

We demonstrate that a compact manometer experiment allows direct observation of a delay to the classical electric-field-induced Freedericksz transition produced by flow in a highly dispersive nematic liquid crystal layer. The Ericksen-Leslie equations are used to show that a flow aligning torque generated in the nematic layer under Poiseuille flow competes with the orthogonal electric-field reorientation torque. This model fully reproduces the experimental results using only self-consistently determined viscosity values, and predicts a more generally applicable expression for the dependence of the delay E c ∝ √ ζ / Δ χ e on the shear rate ζ and on the electric susceptibility anisotropy Δ χ e .

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mottram, Professor Nigel
• Authors: Mottram, N.J., McKay, G., Brown, C.V., Russell, C.T., Sage, I.C., and Tsakonas, C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
• Journal Name: Physical Review E
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 1539-3755
• ISSN (Online): 1550-2376
• Published Online: 15 March 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review E 93(3): 030701(R)
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License