Physical Review Letters · 1972 · 890 citations · 2 references
Natural SciencesMaterials ScienceMechanical Behavior Of MaterialsSolid State PhysicsSurface ScienceCrystallographyLiquid CrystalsSolid-liquid InterfacesSurface CrystallographySurface RoughnessSurface TensionCrystal ElasticityElastic StrainLiquid Crystal AlignmentLiquid Crystal ElasticityLiquid Crystal Surface AlignmentNematic Liquid CrystalsShapeStrain Energy
We show that elastic strain energy may account for the tendency of some nematic liquid crystals to lie parallel to the direction of rubbing on a solid surface that has been slightly deformed by rubbing, or perpendicular to a surface that is slightly rough in two dimensions.
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