Eur. Phys. J. E (2010) 31: 179-189
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2010-10560-0

Regular Article

On the threshold characteristics of the flexoelectric domains arising in a homogeneous electric field: The case of anisotropic elasticity

Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72 Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd., BG-1784, Sofia, Bulgaria

^* e-mail: ymarinov@issp.bas.bg

Received: 18 June 2009
Revised: 29 September 2009
Published online: 2 March 2010

Abstract

Precise solutions for the threshold voltage U_c and wave number q_c that feature the appearance of longitudinal flexoelectric domains of Vistin’-Pikin-Bobylev at strong anchoring have been derived. Based on the formulated expressions, we present and analyze computer calculations for a planar nematic layer with anisotropic elasticity and both negative and positive dielectric anisotropy under the action of a homogeneous flexoelectrically deforming d.c. electric field. The obtained relations allow a selection of particular values of physical parameters, in order to improve the performance of devices exploiting flexoelectrcity in nematics.