Engstrom, D.
, Persson, M.
, Trivedi, R.
, Bertness, K.
, Goksor, M.
and Smalyukh, I.
(2011),
Three-dimensional imaging of liquid crystal structures and defects by means of holographic manipulation of colloidal nanowires with faceted sidewalls, Soft Matter, [online], https://doi.org/10.1039/c1sm05170a
(Accessed October 16, 2025)
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Three-dimensional imaging of liquid crystal structures and defects by means of holographic manipulation of colloidal nanowires with faceted sidewalls
Published
Author(s)
David Engstrom, Martin Persson, Rahul P. Trivedi, , Mattias Goksor, Ivan I. Smalyukh
Abstract
We use nanowires with faceted sidewalls for mapping of the patterns of three-dimensional orientational order and defect structures. In chiral nematics, the nanowires follow the local average orientation of rod-shaped molecules. When spatially translated by use of holographic optical tweezers in three dimensions, they mediate direct nondestructive visualization of the helicoidal ground-state structures, edge and screw dislocations, and kinks, as well as enable non-contact manipulation of these defects. We probe interactions of faceted nanowires with different defects and demonstrate their spontaneous self-alignment along the cores of singular defect lines.Citation
Soft Matter
Volume
7
Issue
13
Pub Type
Journals
Download Paper
Keywords
defect manipulation, GaN nanowires, liquid crystals, optical tweezers
Citation
Issues
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Created June 2, 2011, Updated October 12, 2021