Wetting and Anchoring of a Nematic Liquid Crystal on a Rough Surface

M. P. Valignat, S. Villette, J. Li, R. Barberi, R. Bartolino, E. Dubois-Violette, and A. M. Cazabat
Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 1994 – Published 2 September 1996
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Abstract

Ellipsometric measurements of a nematic drop spreading on a rough surface are reported. The thickness profile of the drop shows two typical lengths belonging to the microscopic and to the mesoscopic scales (a few tens and some hundreds of Å, respectively). No intermediate thicknesses are observed during the spreading. A simple model involving the balance among elastic, anchoring, and spreading energies is used to interpret the results.

  • Received 21 December 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.1994

©1996 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. P. Valignat1, S. Villette1, J. Li2, R. Barberi2, R. Bartolino1,2, E. Dubois-Violette3, and A. M. Cazabat1

  • 1Physique de la matière condensée, Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, France
  • 2Istituto Nazionale di Fisica della Materia, Unità de Cosenza, c/o Dip. di Fisica, UNICAL, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
  • 3Laboratoire de physique des solides, Bâtiment 510, Université de Paris-sud, 91405 Orsay, France

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Vol. 77, Iss. 10 — 2 September 1996

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