1. Vadim A. Slavin, Robert A. Pelcovits, George Loriot, Andrew Callan-Jones, David H. Laidlaw Vis 06 Techniques for the Visualization of Topological Defect Behavior in Nematic Liquid Crystals

2. Liquid crystal basics T long organic molecules; model as rods or ellipsoids Uniaxial nematic Isotropic

3. P 1/2 Topological defects in nematics: line defects 3 2 1 P 1 3 2 -1/2 core

4. P +1/2 2D slice of this: defects formed closed loops Defect loops

5. Monopoles

6. Questions: 3D, Cores, Evolution

8. ClCl CpCp CsCs C l + C p + C s = 1

9. ClCl CpCp CsCs

14. Vadim A. Slavin, Robert A. Pelcovits, George Loriot, Andrew Callan-Jones, David H. Laidlaw Vis 06 Techniques for the Visualization of Topological Defect Behavior in Nematic Liquid Crystals