Recording of Virtual Disclination Lines by Means of Surface Polymerization in a Nematic Liquid Crystal

ABSTRACT

On performing an in-situ UV-polymerization of tri-acrylate in 5CB nematic samples, we observe the formation of a film onto the cell plates that is able to record virtual disclination lines. This memory effect evidences that the director orientation is imprinted onto the substrates during the polymerization process. Interestingly here, the nematic phase works twice, at the writing and at the reading stages.

Keywords:

• imprinting
• memory effect
• photo-polymer
• virtual disclination line

Acknowledgments

D. Pires thanks the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia of the Ministério da Ciência e do Ensino Superior – Portugal, for the PhD Scholarship SFRH/BD/10168(2002).