In this work, we analyze the defect and antidefect distribution in the nematic calamitic phase of a lyotropic liquid crystal [the ternary mixture formed by potassium laurate (KL), decanol (DeOH), and water]. We obtain defects with wedge disclinations of strength $\pm 1∕2$, and the scaling exponent determined by the defect-antidefect correlation was $0.29\pm 0.07$. This value is in good agreement with the theoretical value of $1∕4$ obtained by the Kibble mechanism. The constant of the scaling relation of the defect and antidefect distribution is also discussed. We compare our results with the values obtained by Digal et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 5030 (1999)] who used a thermotropic liquid crystal.

• Received 26 August 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.75.061704