![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Transient diffraction phenomena induced by external applied electric field to nematic liquid crystal (4-cyano-4′-n-pcntylbiphenyl) cells have been investigated. Far-field ring diffraction pattern is observed and is caused by a quasiperiodic herringbone pattern, similar in appearance to the classical Williams domain, in the nematic liquid crystal cells. It is found that the electric-field and the temperature dependences of the diffraction transients have correlation with those of current transients due to the conduction of impurity ions. These findings are essentially the same for both homogeneously and homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal cells. It is concluded that the transient diffraction is attributable to the ion conduction via the formation of the herringbone texture.