Influence of boundary conditions on the order and defects of biaxial nematic droplets

Cesare Chiccoli (Author), Louiz Roberto Evangelista (Author), Paolo Pasini (Author), Gregor Skačej (Author), R. Teixeira de Souza (Author), Claudio Zannoni (Author)

Abstract

We employ Monte Carlo simulations to study the defects occurring in a nematic droplet formed by biaxial molecules. The simulations are carried out using a lattice model based on a dispersive orientational biaxial potential previously employed to establish the rich phase diagram of the system. The focus of the present investigation is on the molecular organization inside the droplet when bipolar and toroidal anchoring conditions at the surface are considered. In both cases, we describe how the defect structure arises in the system, and we analyze the behavior of the defect core region in connection with the elastic properties of the phase in a continuum theory perspective.

Keywords

fizika kondenzirane snovi;tekoči kristali;nematske kapljice;simulacije;condensed matter physics;liquid crystals;nematic droplets;simulations;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2019
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
UDC:	538.9
COBISS:	3390308
ISSN:	2470-0045
Views:	666
Downloads:	380
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	fizika kondenzirane snovi;tekoči kristali;nematske kapljice;simulacije;
Pages:	str. 032702-1-032702-5
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ100
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ3
Chronology:	2019
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevE.100.032702
ID:	11362100