Theory and simulation of cholesteric blue phases: effect of the elastic constants on the stability of blue phases and the response of a blue phase cell to an electric field

Jun-ichi Fukuda

doi:10.1117/12.929315

15 October 2012 Theory and simulation of cholesteric blue phases: effect of the elastic constants on the stability of blue phases and the response of a blue phase cell to an electric field

Jun-ichi Fukuda

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8475, Liquid Crystals XVI; 84750T (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929315
Event: SPIE Organic Photonics + Electronics, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We present our recent theoretical and numerical studies concerning the properties of cholesteric blue phases (BPs). One is on the effect of the variation of the Frank elastic constants on the stability of BPs. Our study is based on a classical and well-known theory of Meiboom et al. that gave a rough estimate of the temperature range of stable BPs in the case of equal elastic constants. We extend it to take into account the difference of the elastic constants. We show that the stability of BPs is greatly enhanced when the bend elastic constant K33 is smaller, which agrees well with recent experiments. We also show that larger splay (K11) and twist (K22) elastic constants are also favorable for the stability of BPs. The other subject of the present paper is the response of BPs in a parallel cell to an applied electric field. We carry out numerical calculations for the investigation the dynamics of orientational order and associated disclination lines. Our calculations are based on a Landau-de Gennes theory describing the orientational order of the liquid crystal by a second-rank tensor. Our preliminary calculations demonstrate that a non-uniform electric field induced by comb-like electrodes gives rise to non-trivial dynamics of disclination lines.

Citation Download Citation

Jun-ichi Fukuda "Theory and simulation of cholesteric blue phases: effect of the elastic constants on the stability of blue phases and the response of a blue phase cell to an electric field", Proc. SPIE 8475, Liquid Crystals XVI, 84750T (15 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929315

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
8 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Liquid crystals

Electrodes

Temperature metrology

Dielectrics

Computer simulations

Maxwell's equations

Anisotropy

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years