Abstract
The director-field configuration of a nematic liquid crystal confined to a spherical cavity within a urethane polymer is observed to transform from a radial- to axial-type structure as the radius of the cavity, temperature, or strength of an applied electric field are varied. The phase diagram, anchoring strength at the droplet wall, and a value of the reduced field inside the droplet are determined for different polymer/liquid crystal interfaces.
- Received 18 August 1989
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.64.1907
©1990 American Physical Society