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arXiv · 1211.4622

Bivalent defect configurations in inhomogeneous nematic shells

V. Koning·T. Lopez-Leon·A. Fernandez-Nieves·V. Vitelli
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Abstract

We present a theoretical study of the director fields and energetics of nematic liquid crystal shells with two pairs of surface defects. The pairs of defects can undergo abrupt transitions between a configuration of maximum separation to at state in which the defects are confined to the thinnest hemisphere. We construct a phase diagram that maps out the stability and coexistence of these two configurations as a function of shell thickness and thickness inhomogeneity. Our results compare favorably with the experimentally observed transitions in nematic double emulsion droplets and explain their hysteretic character.

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V. Koning, T. Lopez-Leon, A. Fernandez-Nieves, V. Vitelli. 2012-11-19. Bivalent defect configurations in inhomogeneous nematic shells. https://arxiv.org/abs/1211.4622

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