Domain motion in confined liquid crystals

Abstract

We extend a lattice Boltzmann algorithm of liquid crystal hydrodynamics to include an applied electric field. The approach solves the equations of motion written in terms of a tensor order parameter. Back-flow effects and the hydrodynamics of topological defects are included. We investigate some of the dynamics relevant to liquid crystal devices; in particular defect-mediated motion of domain walls relevant to the nucleation of states useful in pi-cells. An anisotropy in the domain wall velocity is seen because defects of different topology couple differently to the flow field.