Bent-core nematic liquid crystals: Opportunities and mysteries – Jim Gleeson

Date: Thu. February 26th, 2009, 4:15 pm-5:15 pm
Location: Rockefeller 301

In this talk, we review recent progress with a new class of liquid crystalline materials. These materials, which are based upon molecules having a reduced symmetry class, exhibit unexpected behavior, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Furthermore, they also hold significant promise for novel technological applications. Experimental probes include high resolution calorimetry, mechano-electrical response, the effects of ultra-high magnetic fields and nonlinear optical properties. We will discuss various mechanisms which can potentially explain these effect.