Journal
PHYSICAL REVIEW E
Volume 86, Issue 3, Pages -Publisher
AMER PHYSICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.030702
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [DMR-0847304]
- European Marie Curie Program [IEF-236091]
- Division Of Materials Research
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien [0847304] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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We study coalescence of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals confined to spherical shells using both experiments and computer simulations. We observe that the four s = +1/2 defects that are present due to topological constraints imposed by the spherical geometry coalesce by pairs after changing the molecular orientation at the outer surface from tangential to perpendicular; the result is the formation of two single s = +1 defects. It is noteworthy that the speed of the coalescence process is peaked when the defects are at opposite points on the equator of the shell; this maximum results from the thickness inhomogeneity of the shells.
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