Abstract
We report on chevrons (herringbonelike patterns) observed in homeotropically aligned liquid crystals with high electric conductivity. We focus our attention on two types of chevrons observed in the conduction regime. The threshold voltage and the characteristic double periodicity of chevrons (i.e., the short wavelength [Formula Presented] of the striated rolls and the long wavelength [Formula Presented] of the chevron bands) have been measured as functions of the applied electric frequency f. With the aid of a crossed polarizer set, we have, in addition, determined the director field which shows a periodic in-plane rotation for our chevrons (with a wavelength [Formula Presented] We arrived at the types of chevrons after qualitatively different bifurcation sequences with increasing voltage. The frequency dependence of [Formula Presented] also shows a qualitatively different behavior with respect to the two types of chevrons. The experimental results are discussed in terms of recent theoretical investigations.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2769-2776 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2000 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics