title: Stick-slip dynamics around a topological defect in free-standing smectic films.
abstract: We study the orientational relaxation of a spiral pattern around a central defect with topological strength S=+1 in free-standing smectic films. Instead of a continuous unwinding, a characteristic stick-slip relaxation is observed, where the elastic anisotropy plays the dominant role for the director anchoring in the vicinity of the defect. A model derived from nematic continuum theory is used to interpret the experimental observations.
authors.affiliation: Otto-von-Guericke-University, Institute of Experimental Physics, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eremin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bohley
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stannarius