Nucleation Induced Undulative Instability in Thin Films of nCB Liquid Crystals
arXiv:cond-mat/0105536 · doi:10.1209/epl/i2002-00492-x
Abstract
A surface instability is reported in thin nematic films of 5CB and 8CB, occurring near the nematic--isotropic phase transition. Although this instability leads to patterns reminiscent of spinodal dewetting, we show that it is actually based on a nucleation mechanism. Its characteristic wavelength does not depend markedly on film thickness, but strongly on the heating rate.
4 pages, 5 figures