Pattern
formation
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Pattern formation is a spatio-temporal response of a
system moved out of equilibrium by various excitations (e.g. electric or
magnetic field, shear flow, thermal gradient or undercooling, pressure
difference). Liquid crystals (orientationally ordered anisotropic fluids) are very rich in pattern forming phenomena. Their transparency and optical anisotropy, as well as their convenient time (ms to s) and length (mm to mm) scales allow easy observation of various instabilities. |
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A. Buka, L. Kramer (Eds): Pattern Formation in Liquid Crystals, ISBN-10: 0387946047 ISBN-13: 978-0387946047 |
Our group has been studying pattern forming instabilities in the bulk as
well as at interfaces.
Investigated bulk
instabilities: Electroconvection (topic
of current interest)
Flexoelectric domains (topic of current interest)
Investigated
interfacial instabilities: Growth patterns at phase transitions