Direct Observation of the Orientation Fluctuation in a Nematic Liquid Crystal with a High Speed Video Camera IV

Abstract

The orientational fluctuations in a homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal were successfully observed with a high-speed video camera. From the series of images obtained, first the spatial Fourier transformation of each image was computed and then the time correlation function at each wave number was calculated. A theory to analyse the results was developed and by using it the ratios of the clastic constant to the viscosity were obtained. In addition, the static orientational defects were investigatd.