Pattern formation in conductive nematic liquid crystals I

Abstract

When a voltage is applied to a homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy, Schlieren pattern is usually observed. In contrast, when the liquid crystal is doped with ions to increase the electric conductivity and the cell electrodes are covered with insulating films, defects are found to be aligned in a grid pattern. In this study, numerical calculations based on the continuum theory were performed to elucidate the formation mechanism of the grid pattern.