A transmission-electron-microscope technique enables direct visualization of the director field of a liquid-crystal polymer at a resolution of 30 nm. Continuum mechanics is used to describe distortions in the director field produced by a disclination, and the relative bend and splay elastic anisotropy for various polymers is measured. The elastic anisotropy varies significantly with small chemical differences. Effect of molecular weight is discussed. This technique should also yield information of disclination core structure.

• Received 18 November 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.62.1993