title: Splay-bend textures involving tetrahedratic order.
abstract: We show that defect-free splay-bend textures are less energetic compared to uniform states in liquid-crystalline phases that possess both quadrupolar (nematic) and octupolar (tetrahedratic) order. This is because, in such systems, there is a symmetry-allowed linear gradient term in the energy. Another unusual feature of these splay-bend textures is the fact that they have a non-homogeneous, space-dependent free-energy density. These results may help clarify some mysterious features noted for the B7 liquid-crystal phase formed by achiral banana-shaped molecules.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, PO Box 3148, 55021, Mainz, Germany. pleiner@mpip-mainz.mpg.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pleiner
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cladis
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Brand