Defect coalescence in spherical nematic shells.
Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys
; 86(3 Pt 1): 030702, 2012 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23030858
ABSTRACT
We study coalescence of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals confined to spherical shells using both experiments and computer simulations. We observe that the four s=+1/2 defects that are present due to topological constraints imposed by the spherical geometry coalesce by pairs after changing the molecular orientation at the outer surface from tangential to perpendicular; the result is the formation of two single s=+1 defects. It is noteworthy that the speed of the coalescence process is peaked when the defects are at opposite points on the equator of the shell; this maximum results from the thickness inhomogeneity of the shells.
Buscar no Google
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article