When nematic liquid crystals are embedded in random polymer networks, the disordered environment disrupts the long-range order, producing a glassy state. If an electric field is applied, it induces large and fairly temperature-independent orientational order. To understand the experiments, we simulate a liquid crystal in a disordered polymer network, visualize the domain structure, and calculate the response to a field. Furthermore, using an Imry-Ma-like approach we predict the domain size and estimate the field-induced order. The simulations and analytic results agree with each other, and suggest how the materials can be optimized for electro-optic applications. © 2013 American Physical Society.
CITATION STYLE
Lopatina, L. M., & Selinger, J. V. (2013). Polymer-disordered liquid crystals: Susceptibility to an electric field. Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, 88(6). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.88.062510
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