title: Zenithal gliding of the easy axis of a nematic liquid crystal.
abstract: We present experimental evidence of zenithal gliding of the nematic easy axis on a polyimide surface. The reorientation dynamics of the easy axis under external torque, and its relaxation, are extremely slow processes which cannot be described by a single exponential time. They show similarities with aging phenomena previously encountered in glassy systems. At last, the adsorption-desorption-readsorption process which empirically justifies the azimuthal easy axis gliding may also explain our observations.
authors.affiliation: Nemoptic, 1 rue Guynemer, 78114 Magny les Hameaux, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Krassimira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antonova
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinot-Lagarde
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dozov