Configuration transition in a nematic liquid crystal confined to a small spherical cavity

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Abstract
The director-field configuration of a nematic liquid crystal confined to a spherical cavity within a urethane polymer is observed to transform from a radial- to axial-type structure as the radius of the cavity, temperature, or strength of an applied electric field are varied. The phase diagram, anchoring strength at the droplet wall, and a value of the reduced field inside the droplet are determined for different polymer/liquid crystal interfaces.