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Molecular dynamics simulations of surface-induced ordering in a nematic liquid crystal

J. Stelzer, P. Galatola, and G. Barbero

L. Longa

  • Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Torino, and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica della Materia, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24,

  • Centro Internacional de Fisica da Materia Condensada, Universidade de Brasilia, Caixa Postal 04667, 70919-970 Brasilia,
  • and Department of Statistical Physics, Jagellonian University, Reymonta 4, Kraków, Poland

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Phys. Rev. E 55, 477 – Published 1 January, 1997

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.55.477

Abstract

By means of a molecular dynamics simulation, we show that a uniaxial nematic liquid crystal may exhibit an unusual ordering that appears within a few molecular lengths from a rough surface. In contact with the surface, a smectic-C layering is induced. Moving towards the bulk, the smectic order disappears and a decrease of the uniaxial orientational order below the bulk value occurs. The intermediate region between the surface-induced smectic-C ordering and the bulk nematic is characterized by a considerable degree of biaxiality. Correspondingly, the director orientation undergoes a strong distortion close to the surface.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. E 55, 477– Published 1 January, 1997
  • Received 12 July 1996

© 1997 American Physical Society

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