Introduction to defect textures in liquid crystals

Abstract

Defects in liquid crystal systems are important to the identification of mesophase types and to the construction and operation of displays. They may need to be eradicated or they may need to be present and of a controlled size. Defects of various types naturally grow in mesophases, and when they do they are observed in the polarizing microscope as defect textures. Defects can also be induced via device construction, for example, through the alignment coating. This chapter describes some of the defects formed naturally, some that are formed paramorphotically from another mesophase on cooling, and some induced by surface coatings.