Switching and defect dynamics in multistable liquid crystal devices

TL;DR

This paper explores the switching behavior and defect dynamics in multistable nematic liquid crystal devices, highlighting simple 2D bistable and complex 3D tristable configurations with practical implications.

Contribution

It introduces a simple 2D hybrid-alignment device for bistability and analyzes defect dynamics in a 3D patterned anchoring tristable device.

Findings

2D hybrid-alignment device exhibits bistability.

3D patterned anchoring device shows complex defect dynamics.

Switching mechanisms involve director and disclination pattern changes.

Abstract

We investigate the switching dynamics of multistable nematic liquid crystal devices. In particular we identify a remarkably simple 2-dimensional (2D) device which exploits hybrid alignment at the surfaces to yield a bistable response. We also consider a 3-dimensional (3D) tristable nematic device with patterned anchoring, recently implemented in practice, and discuss how the director and disclination patterns change during switching.