Thermo-optical generation of particle-like structures in frustrated chiral nematic film

Abstract

The creation of metastable particle-like structures in frustrated (unwound) chiral nematic film containing light-absorbing additive is studied. It is shown that such localized structures can be generated by the thermo-optical action of a focused laser beam or arise spontaneously at a phase transition from an isotropic to a liquid crystal state. Observed axisymmetric patterns resemble cholesteric spherulites with toroidal double-twisted director-field configuration.