Superstructures in magnetically oriented lyotropic nematics, a hydrodynamic effect ?

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Light scattering studies have demonstrated the existence of a large scale periodic organization of the amphiphilic aggregates in magnetically oriented lyotropic nematic samples. This was first interpreted structurally, in terms of fluctuations of the concentration of the aggregates. The study described here rather suggest a textural interpretation, in terms of a periodic angular distribution of the directors. This organization corresponds to the roll structure associated with the backflow induced by the orientation of the aggregates in the magnetic field. These experiments constitute the first observations of coherent patterns of hydrodynamic origin in lyotropic liquid crystals