Inhomogeneous bulk nematic order reconstruction
G. Lombardo, H. Ayeb, F. Ciuchi, M. P. De Santo, R. Barberi, R. Bartolino, E. G. Virga, and G. E. Durand

A two-dimensional model within the $\bar{\bar{Q}}$-tensor description of liquid crystals is used to describe the inhomogeneous order reconstruction in a nematic cell driven by tony modulation in the anchoring conditions. Homogeneous and inhomogeneous reconstruction are contrasted: the former is defectless, the latter is defect-mediated. While the transition thresholds are comparable in both cases and in good agreement with experimental data, the biaxial wall breaking is considerably slower in the inhomogeneous transition than in the homogeneous one. The shape of the signal given by the electric current flowing trough the cell allows to distinguish the actual path followed by the transition.

© 2008 The American Physical Society.