Abstract:
We develop a characterization method of electroconvection structures in a planar nematic liquid crystal layer by a study of the electric current transport. Because the applied potential difference has a sinusoidal time dependence, we define two electric Nusselt numbers corresponding to the in-phase and out-of-phase components of the current. These Nusselt numbers are predicted theoretically using a weakly nonlinear analysis of the standard model. Our measurements of the electric current confirm that both numbers vary linearly with the distance from onset until the occurence of secondary transitions. A systematic comparison between our theoretical and experimental results, using no adjusted parameters, demonstrates moderate agreement, but discrepancies remain. Electric transport measurements during electroconvection represent a quantitative test of the standard model completely independent from optical probes. Thus, the technique described here can be a useful complement to traditional structural measurements.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 21 January 2001 and Received in final form 1st February 2002
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gleeson, J., Gheorghiu, N. & Plaut, E. Electric Nusselt number characterization of electroconvection in nematic liquid crystals. Eur. Phys. J. B 26, 515–520 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e20020121
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e20020121