title: Flow-induced delayed Freedericksz transition.
abstract: We demonstrate that a compact manometer experiment allows direct observation of a delay to the classical electric-field-induced Freedericksz transition produced by flow in a highly dispersive nematic liquid crystal layer. The Ericksen-Leslie equations are used to show that a flow aligning torque generated in the nematic layer under Poiseuille flow competes with the orthogonal electric-field reorientation torque. This model fully reproduces the experimental results using only self-consistently determined viscosity values, and predicts a more generally applicable expression for the dependence of the delay E(c)∝sqrt[ζ/Δχ(e)] on the shear rate ζ and on the electric susceptibility anisotropy Δχ(e).
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mottram
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsakonas