writer：Wei Wang, Takeji Hashimoto
keywords：bipolar structure; nematic droplets
source：期刊
specific source：Liquid Crystals
Issue time：1996年

We have directly observed the coalescence process of elementary nematic droplets having a bipolar structure. The coalescence results in a symmetry-breaking of the elementary droplet and then creation of new defects at the surface of the coalesced droplet. The annihilation of the defects with opposite signs and the shape change result in symmetry-recovering and finally formation of a large droplet that has absolutely the same structure as the former elementary droplets.