We study the formation of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals confined in open bicontinuous networks produced in glass by femtosecond laser micromachining. We obtain a careful classification of the number and localisation of the defects as a function of the topological properties of the network. Our findings lead to a general formula that predicts the total topological charge in open complex networks, thus complementing the classic Stein–Gauss theorem. Our result provides a justification for the observed multistability of nematics confined in porous networks.
Topological defects of nematic liquid crystals confined in porous networks / F. Serra, K.C. Vishnubhatla, M. Buscaglia, R. Cerbino, R. Osellame, G. Cerullo, T. Bellini. - In: SOFT MATTER. - ISSN 1744-683X. - 7:22(2011), pp. 10945-10950. [10.1039/C1SM05813D]
Topological defects of nematic liquid crystals confined in porous networks
F. SerraPrimo
;M. Buscaglia;R. Cerbino;T. BelliniUltimo
2011
Abstract
We study the formation of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals confined in open bicontinuous networks produced in glass by femtosecond laser micromachining. We obtain a careful classification of the number and localisation of the defects as a function of the topological properties of the network. Our findings lead to a general formula that predicts the total topological charge in open complex networks, thus complementing the classic Stein–Gauss theorem. Our result provides a justification for the observed multistability of nematics confined in porous networks.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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