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Unwinding of the uniform lying helix structure in cholesteric liquid crystals next to a spatially uniform aligning surface

Patrick S. Salter1, Giovanni Carbone1, Sharon A. Jewell2, Steve J. Elston1, and Peter Raynes1

  • 1Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom
  • 2Electromagnetic Materials Group, School of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom

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Phys. Rev. E 80, 041707 – Published 27 October, 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.041707

Abstract

The symmetry of the cholesteric uniform lying helix (ULH) structure, where the helix axis is aligned in a single direction parallel to the device substrates, is not compatible with a uniform surface alignment and an unwinding of the helical structure is expected at the interface. Fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy experiments are performed on the interface between a bulk ULH and a uniform aligning surface (for both planar and homeotropic alignments). The results are analyzed in the framework of a finite difference numerical simulation based on the Frank elastic distortion, to determine relevant director structures. An optical model is introduced to predict three-dimensional fluorescence profiles for the structures. Comparison of experimental and theoretical results shows that the equilibrium structure of the system involves a continuous unwinding of the helix close to the surface.

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Phys. Rev. E 80, 041707– Published 27 October, 2009
  • Received 3 August 2009

© 2009 American Physical Society

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