Chiral symmetry-breaking dynamics in the phase transformation of nematic droplets

ABSTRACT

Dynamic simulations of the isotropic–nematic phase transformation of liquid crystal droplets with homeotropic surface anchoring are found to predict chiral symmetry-breaking dynamics. These observations occur when using material parameters for pentyl-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) but not with the single elastic constant approximation for this material, which is frequently used in simulations. The twisting dynamic process occurs during the relaxation of the domain from an unstable radial texture to a stable uniform texture and involves simultaneous defect loop motion and twisting of the bulk nematic texture.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Nematic liquid crystals
• reorientation dynamics
• continuum simulations
• chirality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Compute Canada, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship program.