Memory effects in tumbling nematics of 8CB liquid crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the dynamic behavior of 8CB liquid crystals using particle tracking and velocity autocorrelation functions, revealing a transition in nematic structures from underdamped to critically damped motions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis method applying harmonic oscillator models to VACF data, providing new insights into nematic phase transitions and microstructural properties of 8CB liquid crystals.

Findings

Identified a transition from underdamped to critically damped harmonic motion in nematic structures.

Measured microstructural and micromechanical properties of 8CB liquid crystals.

Provided a framework to understand complex fluid dynamics through particle tracking analysis.

Abstract

Particle tracking with a 0.98$\mu$m silica sphere is used in determining precessional motion of nematic director in nematic phase of 8CB liquid crystals, as it probes those oriented structures which are of the same wavelength as of the sphere size. Velocity auto correlation(VACF) is used in determining those structures in both parallel and perpendicular orientations to the neamatic director. Further, a generic approach by considering the time dependent harmonic oscillator motions is used to analyze the VACF distribution function. This approach leads to observe a transition in the structures of nematic phase that are comparable to transformations from underdamped harmonic oscillator motion to critically damped motion. Also, we measured the microstructural properties and calculated micromechanical properties. The experimental analysis approach used here for 8CB liquid crystals helps to understand and characterize the general dynamic behavior of complex fluids. With this analysis, `dynamics of complex fluids' becomes no more `complex'.