Liquid crystal electrohydrodynamics in the presence of a magnetic field: the dynamic scattering transition

Abstract

We have studied electrohydrodynamic convection in the nematic liquid crystal MMBA in the conduction regime in the presence of a competing magnetic field. This field substantially alters the behaviour of the system, causing a metastable surface deformation and travelling waves. The magnetic field also alters the transition between the two dynamic scattering modes so that both states retain anisotropic ordering. A scaling relation is found describing this hysteretic transition. We report the existence of a stable mixed state of DSM 1 and DSM 2.