Topological fine structure of smectic grain boundaries and tetratic disclination lines within three-dimensional smectic liquid crystals

Abstract

Observing and characterizing the complex ordering phenomena of liquid crystals subjected to external constraints constitutes an ongoing challenge for chemists and physicists alike. To elucidate the delicate balance appearing when the intrinsic positional order of smectic liquid crystals comes into play, we perform Monte-Carlo simulations of rod-like particles in a range of cavities with a cylindrical symmetry. Based on recent insights into the topology of smectic orientational grain boundaries in two dimensions, we analyze the emerging three-dimensional defect structures from the perspective of tetratic symmetry. Using an appropriate three-dimensional tetratic order parameter constructed from the Steinhardt order parameters, we show that those grain boundaries can be interpreted as a pair of tetratic disclination lines that are located on the edges of the nematic domain boundary. Thereby, we shed light on the fine structure of grain boundaries in three-dimensional confined smectics.