Dynamics of electro-orientation of birefringent microsheets in isotropic and nematic liquid crystals

M. V. Rasna, K. P. Zuhail, U. V. Ramudu, R. Chandrasekar, and Surajit Dhara
Phys. Rev. E 94, 032701 – Published 29 September 2016
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Abstract

We study the dynamics of electric field driven multiaxis electro-orientation of birefringent microsheets in both the isotropic and nematic phases of a liquid crystal. For a fixed direction of applied field in the isotropic phase, there are two critical fields above which the microsheets show two orientations. In the nematic phase, it shows three rotations in both planar and homeotropic cells. These orientations are observed at varying voltages and wide time scales and are explained based on the competing effect of the electric, elastic, and viscous torques. The control of the orientation of anisotropic microparticles (both optically and geometrically) by transducing external energy may be useful in electro-optics and photonics.

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  • Received 11 July 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.94.032701

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

M. V. Rasna1, K. P. Zuhail1, U. V. Ramudu2, R. Chandrasekar2, and Surajit Dhara1,*

  • 1School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
  • 2School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India

  • *sdsp@uohyd.ernet.in

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Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 3 — September 2016

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