Chiral π Domain Walls Composed of Twin Half-Integer Surface Disclinations in Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Yi, Shengzhu, Hong, Zening, Ma, Zhongjie, Zhou, Chao, Jiang, Miao, Huang, Xiang, Huang, Mingjun, Aya, Satoshi, Zhang, Rui, Wei, Qi-Huo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Yi, Shengzhu
Hong, Zening
Ma, Zhongjie
Zhou, Chao
Jiang, Miao
Huang, Xiang
Huang, Mingjun
Aya, Satoshi
Zhang, Rui
Wei, Qi-Huo
author_facet Yi, Shengzhu
Hong, Zening
Ma, Zhongjie
Zhou, Chao
Jiang, Miao
Huang, Xiang
Huang, Mingjun
Aya, Satoshi
Zhang, Rui
Wei, Qi-Huo
contents Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals are polar fluids characterized by microscopic orientational ordering and macroscopic spontaneous polarizations. Within these fluids, walls that separate domains of different polarizations are ubiquitous. We demonstrate that the π walls in films of polar fluids consist of twin half-integer surface disclinations spaced horizontally, enclosing a subdomain where the polarization exhibits left- or right-handed π twists across the film. The degenerate geometric configurations of these twin disclinations give rise to kinks and antikinks, effectively partitioning subdomains of opposite chirality like Ising chains. The hierarchical topological structures dictate that field-driven polar switching entails a two-step annihilation process of the disclinations. These findings serve as a cornerstone for comprehending other walls in ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials, thereby laying the base for domain engineering crucial for advancing their nonlinear and optoelectronic applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_13326
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Chiral π Domain Walls Composed of Twin Half-Integer Surface Disclinations in Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals
Yi, Shengzhu
Hong, Zening
Ma, Zhongjie
Zhou, Chao
Jiang, Miao
Huang, Xiang
Huang, Mingjun
Aya, Satoshi
Zhang, Rui
Wei, Qi-Huo
Soft Condensed Matter
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals are polar fluids characterized by microscopic orientational ordering and macroscopic spontaneous polarizations. Within these fluids, walls that separate domains of different polarizations are ubiquitous. We demonstrate that the π walls in films of polar fluids consist of twin half-integer surface disclinations spaced horizontally, enclosing a subdomain where the polarization exhibits left- or right-handed π twists across the film. The degenerate geometric configurations of these twin disclinations give rise to kinks and antikinks, effectively partitioning subdomains of opposite chirality like Ising chains. The hierarchical topological structures dictate that field-driven polar switching entails a two-step annihilation process of the disclinations. These findings serve as a cornerstone for comprehending other walls in ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials, thereby laying the base for domain engineering crucial for advancing their nonlinear and optoelectronic applications.
title Chiral π Domain Walls Composed of Twin Half-Integer Surface Disclinations in Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.13326