Abstract
The liquid‐crystal alignment properties of gratings with a 1–10‐μm period are described. Experiments are presented to compare the roles of interfacial interactions and surface topography in determining alignment. It is shown that grooves are neither necessary nor always sufficient to produce alignment. Interfacial forces can give rise to strongly pinned alignment, governed by various biases applied during the first appearance of long‐range order at the interface.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: