Numerical Modeling of Periodic Structures  in Liquid Crystal Films

Abstract

Periodic structures are common in liquid-crystal films. This is true for systems involving chiral molecules, which have intrinsic periodic tendencies, as well as for achiral systems (such as nematics), which do not. In technologies such periodic patterns can be desirable (in diffractive optics applications, for example) or not. In any case, they can be challenging to model numerically. We report on our experience with two systems.  The first involves a "stripe phase" that can appear in a nematic in a magnetic field in the "bend-Freedericksz geometry." The second involves a cholesteric material with negative dielectric anisotropy in an applied electric field.