Abstract
We model the zenithally bistable device (ZBD) in three dimensions (3D), within the Landau-de Gennes theory, and find three stable static states in 3D without an applied field: the vertically aligned nematic (VAN) state, the hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) state and a third, high-tilt state, which we call the THAN state, with an interior and a surface defect. We recover the order reconstruction (OR) phenomenon around the defects in the HAN and THAN states and the 3D THAN and HAN solutions exhibit stable biaxial cylinders connecting defects on opposite faces of the ZBD device. We demonstrate a two-way temperature-driven switching between high-tilt and low-tilt states through controlled heating and cooling procedures in two dimensions (2D), with no applied fields. © CopyrightEPLA, 2014.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 16002 |
| Journal | EPL (Europhysics Letters) |
| Volume | 107 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 7 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUK-C1-013-04
Acknowledgements: The authors thank the referees for useful comments and suggestions which much improved the manuscript. The authors thank PATRICK SCHREIER for his MATLAB finite element package and his help during implementation. We thank PETER HOWELL, VICTOR BURLAKOV and NIGEL MOTTRAM for fruitful discussions. AM is supported by an EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship, EP/J001686/1, an OCCAM Visiting Fellowship and a Keble Research Grant. AR is supported by KAUST, Award No. KUK-C1-013-04 and the John Fell OUP fund.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.