Dynamics of One-Dimensional Periodic Pattern Formation on the Electro-Hydrodynamic Convection of a Nematic Liquid Crystal

Abstract

The formation processes of a one-dimensional periodic pattern were investigated on the electro-hydrodynamic convection of a nematic liquid crystal. Two kinds of processes for different initial conditions were observed. In the first initial condition the system was set to be the no-flow state in the absence of the applied field, and in the second the turbulent state under a strong field. The temporal change of the one-dimensional image intensity was measured after the amplitude of an ac electric field was jumped from these initial values to a value slightly above the critical one. The power spectrum function and the locally varying phase were calculated from the image intensity. The obtained results were compared with the numerical simulations of the diffusion equation.