Kink- and double π-forms of distortions in a microsized nematic capillaries

Abstract

Abstract We have described a novel mechanism of a kink-like and double π- forms of distortions of the director field n ^ in a microsized nematic volume, confined between two infinitely long horizontal cylinders with a radial temperature gradient ∇T, under the effect of a voltage U applied between cylinders. It is found that, on the one hand, under certain conditions, in terms of curvature of cylinders κ and the voltage U, the torques and forces acting on the director n ^ may excite the kink-like distortion wave spreading along the normal to both cylindrical boundaries, whose resemblance to a kink-like distortion wave depends on the value of applied voltage U and the curvature of the inner cylinder. It has been worked out, on the other hand, the conditions, in terms of κ and U, producing the distortion mechanism of the n ^ in the double π-form, with the intermediate relaxation wall.