Surface orientation structure dependence of the director dynamics in a nematic slab : Dynamics of Splay-Bend transition

Abstract

It is well known that the director distribution in a thin nematic liquid crystal (NLC) slab is affected by the substrate surface, as well as by external fields. It is important both of for the basic science and for the technological applications of liquid crystals to understand the director distribution in the NLC slab. We have already reported that a Splay-Bend transition occurs in the NLS slab with a parallel structure by a surface treatment. In this report, the time dependent director distribution is discussed in terms of surface orientation structures, which are the parallel orientation and the anti parallel orientation.