Flow-induced Birefringence in Anion-Cation Mixed Lyotropic Crystals

Abstract

In a lyotropic liquid crystal, the shape of the micelle changes depending on the surfactant concentration, composition ratio, temperature, etc. We discovered that the birefringence was induced by the flow near the N-I phase transition temperature in the isotropic phase. The magnitude of the flow-induced birefringence changes depending on the flow velocity and the composition ratio of the sample. We discuss about the critical phenomena quantitatively near the N-I phase transition temperature.