Liquid Crystals in Complex Fluid Systems

9974388 Meyer该项目涉及液晶凝胶系统的主题，以及近晶液晶薄膜的对称性和纹理。 在液晶凝胶领域，将进行实验以探索凝胶网络与液晶的耦合，这赋予了该系统独特的特性。 将进行电光显微镜实验，包括研究样品响应的对称性，以及畴壁的形成，作为施加电压和样品厚度的函数。 通过宏观和微观力学实验，直接观察凝胶-微球的耦合作用，探索凝胶微球作为一种有用的实验几何结构。 薄近晶薄膜将被研究，比较独立的膜与极性膜的液体表面上，特别注意的纹理的变化所造成的对称性的变化的膜。 将进行计算，试图占观察到的纹理，在这些系统的自由能模型。 实验方法包括偏振光视频显微镜，和操纵的样品纹理与电场和光镊，这是高度聚焦的激光beam.Fundamental研究的结构和分子特性的电光效应在凝胶和薄近晶薄膜的对称性和纹理是相关的理解和优化的静态和动态行为的液晶在平板显示设备。 这种涉及物理、化学和生物学的研究的更广泛的教育影响为从高中到博士后培训的学生提供了一个很好的培训基地。

9974388MeyerThis project addresses the topics of liquid crystal gel systems, and symmetry and textures in thin films of smectic liquid crystals. In the area of liquid crystal gels, experiments will be carried out to explore the coupling of the gel network to the nematic liquid crystal, which imparts unique properties to this system. Electro-optical microscopy experiments will be performed, including studies of the symmetry of the sample response, and the formation of domain walls, as a function of applied voltage and sample thickness. Macroscopic and microscopic mechanical experiments will be performed to observe directly the gel-nematic coupling, and gel microspheres will be explored as a useful experimental geometry. Thin smectic films will be studied, comparing free standing films with polar films on the surface of a liquid, with special attention to the changes in texture resulting from the change in symmetry of the film. Computations will be carried out to try to account for the observed textures, in terms of models for the free energy of these systems. Experimental methods include polarized light video microscopy, and manipulation of the sample texture with electric fields and optical tweezers, which are highly focused laser beams.Fundamental studies of the structural and molecular properties of electro-optic effects in nematic gels and the symmetry and textures in thin smectic films is relevant to understanding and optimizing the static and dynamic behavior of liquid crystals in flat panel display devices. The broader educational impact of this kind of research involving physics, chemistry and biology provides an excellent training ground for students from high school through post-doctoral training.