Electrohydrodynamic instability in a binary mixture of cyanobiphenyls in a d.c. field

Abstract

Electrohydrodynamic instability in a homeotropically oriented liquid crystal mixture, with positive dielectric anisotropy, has been studied under a d.c. electric field. Various studies on textures at different voltage were also made. The existence of charge injection, charge diffusion and convective flow of liquid in the liquid crystal cells was found. The effect of viscosity, dielectric anisotropy and other physical parameters on electric current through the sample cells, is discussed. A small change in phase transition temperature on application of an electric field was found in the thin cell of the sample material.