Non-equilibrium Dynamics in Two-dimensional Liquid Crystals

Abstract

We show some non-equilibrium dynamics observed in two-dimensional liquid crystals. The first example isthe orientational waves in illuminated Langmuir monolayers composed of azobenzene derivatives; the secondis the collective and unidirectional molecular precession in chiral monolayers under transmembrane watervapor transport; the third is the rigid-body rotation of an induced Smectic-E film driven by electron beamirradiation. In the 2D LC films with low symmetry, non-trivial cross correlation can often generate nonzerotorque, resulting in coherent and directional molecular motion.