Stability of a split-core configuration induced by saddle-splay elasticity in a submicron nematic liquid crystal spherical droplet

We use Landau-de Gennes theory to investigate the configurations of liquid crystals confined to a submicron spherical droplet subject to weak homeotropic anchoring. The results show that in a one-constant approximation, there are three equilibrium configurations: radial hedgehog, ring disclination a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inLiquid crystals Vol. 49; no. 13; pp. 1746 - 1752
Main Authors Zhang, Hui, Liu, Hongen, Zhang, Zhidong, Zheng, Guili
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis 21.10.2022
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Anisotropy
Configurations
Crystals
Droplets
Elastic anisotropy
Elastic properties
Elasticity
Landau-de Gennes theory
Liquid crystals
Nematic crystals
saddle-splay elastic constant
split-core configuration
stable state
weak anchoring
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ISSN0267-8292
1366-5855
DOI10.1080/02678292.2022.2059715

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Summary:We use Landau-de Gennes theory to investigate the configurations of liquid crystals confined to a submicron spherical droplet subject to weak homeotropic anchoring. The results show that in a one-constant approximation, there are three equilibrium configurations: radial hedgehog, ring disclination and uniform, where the radial hedgehog configuration is a stable state. With increasing elastic anisotropy, which is essentially an increase in the splay elastic constant, the radial hedgehog configuration transforms into a split-core configuration, which is metastable. The split-core configuration becomes the lowest-energy state induced by saddle-splay elasticity within appropriate ranges of the radius and elastic anisotropy.
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ISSN:0267-8292
1366-5855
DOI:10.1080/02678292.2022.2059715