Abstract
An analysis of the dynamics of cylindrical domain walls in planar aligned samples of smectic C liquid crystals is presented. A circular magnetic field, induced by an electric current, drives a time-dependent reorientation of the corresponding radially dependent director field. Nonlinear approximations to the relevant nonlinear dynamic equation, derived from smectic continuum theory, are solved in a comoving coordinated frame: exact solutions are found for a π-wall and numerical solutions are calculated for -walls. Each calculation begins with an assumed initial state for the director that is a prescribed cylindrical domain wall. Such an initial wall will proceed to expand or contract as its central core propagates radially inwards or outwards, depending on the boundary conditions for the director, the elastic constants, the magnitude of the field and the sign of the magnetic anisotropy of the liquid crystal.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 235501 |
Number of pages | 26 |
Journal | Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 23 |
Early online date | 15 May 2009 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Jun 2009 |
Keywords
- continuum models
- liquid crystal structure
- orientational order
- electric field
- magnetic field
- magnetic anisotropy
- mechanical properties of liquids
- liquid crystals