On the structure of blue phase III

TL;DR

This paper uses large-scale simulations to propose that blue phase III in cholesteric liquid crystals is an amorphous disclination network stabilized over crystalline phases, which orders under electric fields, resolving a long-standing debate.

Contribution

It introduces a new structural model for blue phase III as an amorphous network, supported by simulation data, advancing understanding of its stability and behavior.

Findings

Blue phase III is an amorphous disclination network.

The amorphous network is stabilized over crystalline phases.

Electric fields induce ordering in blue phase III.

Abstract

We report large scale simulations of the blue phases of cholesteric liquid crystals. Our results suggest a structure for blue phase III, the blue fog, which has been the subject of a long debate in liquid crystal physics. We propose that blue phase III is an amorphous network of disclination lines, which is thermodynamically and kinetically stabilised over crystalline blue phases at intermediate chiralities}. This amorphous network becomes ordered under an applied electric field, as seen in experiments.