Reorientation Dynamics of Liquid Crystal Molecules at Solid Surfaces

Abstract

We have studied the reorientation dynamics of liquid crystal molecules in the immediate vicinity (within a few molecular lengths) of fused quartz substrates. For this we apply a high-voltage DC electric field to create a polar ordering of the molecules. If this field is switched off, the reorientation dynamics of the molecules involves different relaxation regimes associated with relaxation times varying from less than lms to several hours. We discuss the origin of these different regimes.

Key Words:

• liquid crystals
• surfaces
• interfaces
• dynamics