Chiral π domain walls composed of twin half- integer surface disclinations in ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals
成果类型：
Article
署名作者：
Yi, Shengzhu; Hong, Zening; Ma, Zhongjie; Zhou, Chao; Jiang, Miao; Huang, Xiang; Huang, Mingjun; Aya, Satoshi; Zhang, Rui; Wei, Qi-Huo
署名单位：
Southern University of Science & Technology; South China University of Technology; South China University of Technology; Southern University of Science & Technology
刊物名称：
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ISSN/ISSBN：
0027-11091
DOI：
10.1073/pnas.2413879121
发表日期：
2024-12-24
关键词：
摘要：
Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals are polar fluids characterized by microscopic orientational ordering and macroscopic spontaneous polarizations. Within these fluids, domain walls that separate regions of different polarizations are ubiquitous. We demonstrate that the it walls in films of the polar fluids consist of twin half- integer surface disclinations spaced horizontally, enclosing a subdomain where the polarization exhibits left- or right- handed it twists across the film. The degenerate geometric arrangements of the twin disclinations generate kinks and antikinks, parting subdomains of opposite chirality, like the spin- up and spin- down in Ising chains. The hierarchical structures dictate that field- driven polar switching undergo two- step annihilations of the surface disclinations. These findings provide an insight for both comprehending other walls in the polar fluids and domain engineering crucial for advancing their nonlinear and optoelectronic applications.