Zig-zag wall lattice in a nematic liquid crystal with an in-plane switching configuration

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2014 Aug;90(2):022504. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.022504. Epub 2014 Aug 26.

Abstract

Liquid crystals displays with tailoring electrodes exhibit complex spatiotemporal dynamics when a large voltage is applied. We report experimental observations of the appearance of a programmable zig-zag lattice using an in-plane-switching cell filled with a nematic liquid crystal. Applying a small voltage to a wide range of frequencies, the system exhibits an Ising wall lattice. Increasing the voltage, this lattice presents a spatial instability generating an undulating wall lattice, and to higher voltages it becomes zig-zag type. Experimentally, we characterize the bifurcations and phase diagram of the wall lattice. Theoretically, we develop, from first principles, a descriptive model. This model has a good qualitative agreement with experimental observations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Elasticity
  • Electricity*
  • Electrodes*
  • Glass
  • Liquid Crystals*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Optical Imaging
  • Phase Transition
  • Video Recording
  • Viscosity