Title:	Spatiotemporal patterns in a Langmuir monolayer due to driven molecular precession
Authors:	Gupta, Raj Kumar Suresh, K.A. Kumar, Sandeep Lopatina, L.M. Selinger, R.L.B. Selinger, J.V.
Issue Date:	7-Oct-2008
Publisher:	American Physical Society
Citation:	Physical Review E, 2008, Vol.78, p041703
Abstract:	Langmuir monolayers of chiral liquid crystals on the surface of water exhibit orientational waves with complex spatiotemporal patterns. These patterns arise from a collective precession of the mesogenic molecules, driven by the evaporation of water through the monolayer. We investigate the behavior of these orientational waves around topological defects in the molecular orientation. Through Brewster angle microscopy, we find that the waves form a reversing spiral pattern, which rotates about the central vortex. With increasing relative humidity, the rotation slows and then stops. We model the system theoretically, and show that predicted patterns are in good agreement with the experiments.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/3683
ISSN:	E-ISSN: 1550-2376 P-ISSN: 1539-3755
Alternative Location:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.78.041703
Copyright:	2008 The American Physical Society
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (SCM)

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