Fig. 1: DIO textures in planar cells with parallel assembly.
From: Soliton walls paired by polar surface interactions in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal
a–c Polarizing optical microscopy of a thick d = 4.7 μm sample and d, e PolScope Microimager textures of a thin 1.35 μm sample. a, b Uniform N and SmZA textures, respectively. c polydomain NF texture; the polarization P is antiparallel to the rubbing direction R in the wider domains and is parallel to R in the narrower domains; two 180° DWs enclosing the narrow domain reconnect (circles mark some reconnection points). d Field-induced realignment of P from the direction −R to R. e Reversed field polarity realigns P back into the ground state P ↑↓ R. f Scheme of P reorientation in (e); there are two 180o twist DWs of the Bloch type near the plates. g Azimuthal surface anchoring potential for different ratios of the polar WP and apolar WQ coefficients.
