Dielectrowetting of a thin nematic liquid crystal layer

E. Mema, L. Kondic, and L. J. Cummings
Phys. Rev. E 103, 032702 – Published 31 March 2021

Abstract

We consider a mathematical model that describes the flow of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) film placed on a flat substrate, across which a spatially varying electric potential is applied. Due to their polar nature, NLC molecules interact with the (nonuniform) electric field generated, leading to instability of a flat film. Implementation of the long wave scaling leads to a partial differential equation that predicts the subsequent time evolution of the thin film. This equation is coupled to a boundary value problem that describes the interaction between the local molecular orientation of the NLC (the director field) and the electric potential. We investigate numerically the behavior of an initially flat film for a range of film heights and surface anchoring conditions.

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  • Received 19 November 2020
  • Accepted 12 March 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.103.032702

©2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
  1. Physical Systems
Polymers & Soft MatterCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

E. Mema1, L. Kondic2, and L. J. Cummings2

  • 1United States Military Academy, West Point, New York 10996, USA
  • 2Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 3 — March 2021

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