New structure induced by elastic anisotropy in cylindrical nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

Basing on Landaude Gennes theory, this study investigated the chiral configurations of nematic liquid crystals confined to cylindrical capillaries with homeotropic anchoring on the cylinder walls. When the elastic anisotropy (L₂/L₁) is large enough, a new structure results from the convergence of two opposite escape directions of the heterochiral twist and escape radial (TER) configurations. The new defect presents when L₂/L₁7 and disappears when L₂/L₁<7. The new structure possesses a heterochiral hyperbolic defect at the center and two homochiral radial defects on both sides. The two radial defects show different chiralities.