Photo-induced crystallization at the topological defect of a liquid crystalline droplet

Abstract

We found a photo-induced crystallization phenomenon inside a liquid crystalline droplet during the light irradiation. The crystal was made of solute dissolved in the outside surfactant solution. During the crystallization, small objects were initially formed inside the droplet and they accumulated into the center of the droplet, where a topological defect was located. Here, we report the details of the process and the mechanism of the photo-induced crystallization.