Sudden Isotropic-Nematic Phase Transition Within a Plan-Parallel Cell

ABSTRACT

We study the nematic structure of a liquid crystal confined within a plan-parallel cell following the temperature driven isotropic-nematic phase transition quench. The Lebwohl-Lasher lattice model is used. The kinetics of the system is followed via Brownian molecular dynamics, enabling us to reach macroscopic time scales. In the simulation we assume that at one confining plate the nematic pattern becomes imprinted and frozen in after the phase transition. We study the main features of resulting nematic equilibrium structures.

Keywords:

• nematic liquid crystals
• phase transition
• surface memory effects
• surfaces