Alternative dynamics for the symmetric splay to bend transition in a nematic liquid crystal layer

Abstract

A pathway for a coherent topological transition from the splay to bend director configuration in liquid crystal layers has been previously described via order reconstruction in a two‐dimensional sheet in the plane of the liquid crystal layer. In this paper we provide the details of the modelling of an alternative pathway that is based on the nucleation, motion and annihilation of an array of disclination lines. Electrical current flow onto the cell is calculated based on the two pathways and compared with data.