Phys. Rev. E 80, 041706 (2009) [5 pages]Flow-driven transition and associated velocity profiles in a nematic liquid-crystal cellReceived 16 March 2009; revised 14 September 2009; published 26 October 2009 The alignment properties and distribution of flow speed during Poiseuille flow through a microchannel of a nematic liquid crystal in a cell with homeotropic surface alignment has been measured using a combination of conoscopy, fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy, and time-lapse imaging. Two topologically distinct director profiles, with associated fluid velocity fields, are found to exist with the preferred state dictated by the volumetric flow rate of the liquid crystal. The results show excellent agreement with model data produced using the Ericksen-Leslie nematodynamics theory. © 2009 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.041706
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevE.80.041706
PACS:
42.70.Df, 61.30.Gd, 47.85.Np
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