Dynamics of cholesteric liquid crystals in the presence of random magnetic fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates how random magnetic fields influence the dynamic behavior of cholesteric liquid crystals, revealing a transition to KPZ universality and expanding theoretical understanding of their stochastic dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of stochastic effects on cholesteric liquid crystals, identifying a KPZ universality class transition driven by magnetic field fluctuations.

Findings

Stochastic fluctuations induce a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.

System exhibits KPZ universality class behavior.

Results extend beyond mean-field theories.

Abstract

Based on dynamic renormalization group techniques, this letter analyzes the effects of external stochastic perturbations on the dynamical properties of cholesteric liquid crystals, studied in presence of a random magnetic field. Our analysis quantifies the nature of the temperature dependence of the dynamics; the results also highlight a hitherto unexplored regime in cholesteric liquid crystal dynamics. We show that stochastic fluctuations drive the system to a second-ordered Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition point, eventually leading to a Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) universality class. The results go beyond quasi-first order mean-field theories, and provides the first theoretical understanding of a KPZ phase in distorted nematic liquid crystal dynamics.