Alignment of a Liquid Crystal on an Anisotropic Substrate

Abstract

A homogeneous (planar) alignment of nematic liquid crystal on an optically uniaxial substrate, the optic axis of which is parallel to the surface plane, is considered. Based on the macroscopic theory of van der Waals forces, the contributions of the electrostatic dipolar forces and the dispersion force of the interfacial free energy between the liquid crystal and substrate are considered as functions of the angle between the optic axis of the substrate and the director of the liquid crystal.