Abstract
We present a Monte Carlo study of molecular ordering in nematics with dispersed regular and random arrays of straight and distorted polymer fibrils. We focus on the collective molecular reorientation—the switching—resulting from the competing aligning effects of fibrils and of a progressively applied transversal external field, and for straight fibrils identify stuctural Fréedericksz and saturation transitions. The role of fibril topography in the switching is monitored by simulating electric capacitance Slightly distorted fibrils are shown to give a sharper switching at a lower threshold.
- Received 24 May 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.010701
©2003 American Physical Society