Time-transient process of magnetically induced growth of nematic domains in a biological macromolecular liquid crystal

Abstract

A lyotropic nematic liquid crystal of biological macromolecules was investigated at a nonequilibrium state induced by a magnetic field. By using synchrotron radiation, an x-ray scattering method, and a specially designed magnetic circuit, we have succeeded in observing a time-transient process of a drastic change of the scattering profile from the macromolecular assembly. We can describe this process by a magnetically induced orientation of nematic liquid crystal domains along the field which is equivalent to a growth of nematic domain from polycrystalline to a single liquid crystal. We can estimate the growth rate constant, the longitudinal relaxation time, and the dimension of the nematic microdomains.