title: Polar structure of disclination loops in nematic liquid crystals probed by second-harmonic-light scattering.
abstract: Angle-resolved, second-harmonic-light scattering (SHLS) measurements are reported for three different classes of thermotropic nematic liquid crystals (NLCs): polar and nonpolar rodlike compounds and a bent-core compound. Results revealing well-defined scattering peaks are interpreted in terms of the electric polarization induced by distortions of the nematic orientational field ("flexopolarity") associated with inversion wall defects, nonsingular disclinations, analogous to Neel walls in ferromagnets, that often exhibit a closed loop morphology in NLCs. Analysis of the SHLS patterns based on this model provides a "proof-of-concept" for a potentially useful method to probe the flexopolar properties of NLCs.
authors: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors: Shokir A
authors: SA
authors: Pardaev
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Twieg
authors: Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Jakli
authors: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Gleeson
authors: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Ellman
authors: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sprunt