Lattice Boltzmann scheme for modeling liquid-crystal dynamics: Zenithal bistable device in the presence of defect motion

T. J. Spencer and C. M. Care
Phys. Rev. E 74, 061708 – Published 28 December 2006

Abstract

A lattice Boltzmann scheme is presented which recovers the dynamics of nematic and chiral liquid crystals; the method essentially gives solutions to the Qian-Sheng [Phys. Rev. E 58, 7475 (1998)] equations for the evolution of the velocity and tensor order-parameter fields. The resulting algorithm is able to include five independent Leslie viscosities, a Landau-deGennes free energy which introduces three or more elastic constants, a temperature dependent order parameter, surface anchoring and viscosity coefficients, flexoelectric and order electricity, and chirality. When combined with a solver for the Maxwell equations associated with the electric field, the algorithm is able to provide a full “device solver” for a liquid crystal display. Coupled lattice Boltzmann schemes are used to capture the evolution of the fast momentum and slow director motions in a computationally efficient way. The method is shown to give results in close agreement with analytical results for a number of validating examples. The use of the method is illustrated through the simulation of the motion of defects in a zenithal bistable liquid crystal device.

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  • Received 10 February 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.061708

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. J. Spencer and C. M. Care

  • Materials & Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 74, Iss. 6 — December 2006

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