Phase-field simulations and experiments of faceted growth in liquid crystals
Abstract
We present numerical simulations directed at the description of smectic-B germs growing into the supercooled nematic phase for two different liquid crystalline substances. The simulations are done by means of a phase-field model appropriate to study strong anisotropy and also faceted interfaces. The most important ingredient is the angle-dependent surface energy, but kinetic effects are also relevant. The simulations reproduce qualitatively a rich variety of morphologies observed in the experiments for different value of undercooling, extending from the faceted equilibrium shape to fully developed dendrites.
- Publication:
-
Physica D Nonlinear Phenomena
- Pub Date:
- 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0167-2789(96)00162-5
- Bibcode:
- 1996PhyD...99..359G