Brownian Motion of Topological Point Defects in Smectic C Films

ORAL

Abstract

We observe the diffusive motion of topological point defects in the c-director field of freely-suspended smectic C liquid crystals films using reflected polarized light microscopy. Racemic films two layers thick were created and placed within a vacuum chamber. The diffusion of defects confined to islands of different thickness and diameter was measured as a function of air pressure. As the pressure decreases, the diffusion coefficient increases until it reaches the limit that results from pure 2D confinement.

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Authors

  • Kate Wachs

    University of Colorado

  • Cheol Park

    Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, University of Colorado

  • Zhiyuan Qi

    University of Colorado

  • Joseph MacLennan

    Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Physics, and the Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, University of Colorado, University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Noel Clark

    Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA, Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder (CO) U.S.A., Department of Physics, and the Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Colorado