External and Intrinsic Anchoring in Nematic Liquid Crystals: A Monte Carlo Study

Authors

Nikolai V. Priezjev, Wright State University - Main CampusFollow
G. Skacej
R. A. Pelcovits
S. Zumer

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-27-2003

Abstract

We present a Monte Carlo study of external surface anchoring in nematic cells with partially disordered solid substrates, as well as of intrinsic anchoring at free nematic interfaces. The simulations are based on the simple hexagonal lattice model with a spatially anisotropic intermolecular potential. We estimate the corresponding extrapolation length b by imposing an elastic deformation in a hybrid cell-like nematic sample. Our estimates for b increase with increasing surface disorder and are essentially temperature independent. Experimental values of b are approached only when both the coupling of nematic molecules with the substrate and the anisotropy of nematic-nematic interactions are weak.

Comments

The download link is to a pre-print edition of the article.

Repository Citation

Priezjev, N. V., Skacej, G., Pelcovits, R. A., & Zumer, S. (2003). External and Intrinsic Anchoring in Nematic Liquid Crystals: A Monte Carlo Study. Physical Review E, 68, 041709.
https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/mme/448

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevE.68.041709