Abstract
This paper presents a theoretical study of the annihilation of edge dislocations in the same smectic plane in a bulk smectic- phase. We use a time-dependent Landau-Ginzburg approach where the smectic ordering is described by the complex order parameter . This quantity allows both the degree of layering and the position of the layers to be monitored. We are able to follow both precollision and postcollision regimes, and distinguish different early and late behaviors within these regimes. The early precollision regime is driven by changes in the configuration. The relative velocity of the defects is approximately inversely proportional to the interdefect separation distance. In the late precollision regime the symmetry changes within the cores of defects also become influential. Following the defect collision, in the early postcollision stage, bulk layer order is approached exponentially in time. At very late times, however, there seems to be a long-time power-law tail in the order parameter fluctuation relaxation.
- Received 30 October 2003
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.051704
©2004 American Physical Society