3A16 Anchording patterns and induced liquid crystal alignments

Abstract

We have been demonstrated surface induced in-plane bistability and tristability of nematic liquid crystals by using orientationally frustrated surface alignment patterns. Four- and six-fold rotational symmetry of the alignment patterns are connected to their bistable and tristable functionalities in our demonstrations. In this study, we tried to clarify connections between the symmetry of the alignment patterns and induced liquid crystal alignments with simulations based on the continuum theory of liquid crystals.