Director rotation via photoinduced differential depletion in nematic dyes
We revisit the problem of director realignment induced by photoisomerization of rodlike dye molecules. We find a geometrical basis for the rotational rate, arising by the differential depletion of rods from the nematic distribution. A simple expression, valid for arbitrarily strong, Maier-Saupe-like nematic order, is given for this rate. Contact is made with the weak order scaling limit given in the literature.
Warner
M
Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, England.
Fridrikh
SV