22. Observation of annihilation process of wedge disclinations in P-4-BCMU liquid crystals-wangwei

The first experimental observation of the annihilation process of wedge disclinations through a certain special configuration between a pair of wedge disclinations with s = ± $frac12$ in the nematic P-4-BCMU lyotropic liquid crystal phase is reported in this communication. Our results indicate that besides the transitional motion, a rotation of disclinations with s = ± $frac12$ occurs in the liquid crystal phase, leading to the formation of a certain special configuration shortly before annihilation. The rotation of disclinations is explained qualitatively by the elastic anisotropy of the liquid crystals.

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