title: Theory and computation of directional nematic phase ordering.
abstract: A computational study of morphological instabilities of a two-dimensional nematic front under directional growth was performed using a Landau-de Gennes-type quadrupolar tensor order parameter model for the first-order isotropic-nematic transition of 5CB (pentyl-cyanobiphenyl). A previously derived energy balance, taking anisotropy into account, was utilized to account for latent heat and an imposed morphological gradient in the time-dependent model. Simulations were performed using an initially homeotropic isotropic-nematic interface. Thermal instabilities in both the linear and nonlinear regimes were observed and compared to past experimental and theoretical observations. A sharp-interface model for the study of linear morphological instabilities, taking into account additional complexity resulting from liquid-crystalline order, was derived. Results from the sharp-interface model were compared to those from full two-dimensional simulation identifying the specific limitations of simplified sharp-interface models for this liquid-crystal system. In the nonlinear regime, secondary instabilities were observed to result in the formation of defects, interfacial heterogeneities, and bulk texture dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council (CONICET), J. B. Justo 4302, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. ersoule@fi.mdp.edu.ar
authors.forename: Ezequiel R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Soulé
authors.forename: Nasser Mohieddin
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Abukhdeir
authors.forename: Alejandro D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rey