Field-induced textures of polymer-dispersed chiral liquid crystal microdroplets

Abstract

We have microscopically observed the textures of very large droplets of cholesteric liquid crystal in a polymer matrix under the influence of an electric field E. When E = 0, the droplets exhibit rings and often a disclination line extends from the centre to the periphery of the droplet. As E increases, the droplet undergoes a progressive transition to a uniform-appearing texture. This uniform region first occurs near the centre of the droplet, then increases in radius as the field is increased. We propose that the field-off texture corresponds to the Frank-Pryce spherulite model while the uniform field-on texture is the planar texture.