Topological Defects in Nematic Droplets of Hard Spherocylinders

TL;DR

This study uses computer simulations to analyze the microscopic structure and interactions of topological defects in nematic droplets composed of hard spherocylinders, relevant for colloidal liquid crystal experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed simulation-based analysis of topological defects in nematic droplets of hard spherocylinders, highlighting defect structures and interactions.

Findings

Presence of half-integer topological point defects.

Defect core radius is about one particle length.

Defect interactions are characterized and observable.

Abstract

Using computer simulations we investigate the microscopic structure of the singular director field within a nematic droplet. As a theoretical model for nematic liquid crystals we take hard spherocylinders. To induce an overall topological charge, the particles are either confined to a two-dimensional circular cavity with homeotropic boundary or to the surface of a three-dimensional sphere. Both systems exhibit half-integer topological point defects. The isotropic defect core has a radius of the order of one particle length and is surrounded by free-standing density oscillations. The effective interaction between two defects is investigated. All results should be experimentally observable in thin sheets of colloidal liquid crystals.