Eur. Phys. J. E (2013) 36: 115
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2013-13115-y

Regular Article

Biaxial coherence length in a nematic π-cell

¹ Physics Department, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy
² CNR-IPCF UOS di Cosenza, c/o University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy

^* e-mail: ridha.fst@gmail.com

Received: 8 June 2013
Revised: 1 August 2013
Accepted: 11 September 2013
Published online: 16 October 2013

Abstract

In a highly frustrated calamitic nematic phase, the strain can be relaxed by lowering the nematic order: the starting uniaxial symmetry can be broken and it can be replaced locally with transient biaxial domains. Using simple optical retardation measurements, we estimate the length scale over which the biaxial disturbance decays in space within a π-cell submitted to a weak electric field. We also characterise the transition cascade from the uniaxial splay texture to a bend texture through slow defect motion.