1. Laser- and Electric-Field-Induced Nucleation in Supersaturated Solutions and Supercooled Melts Bruce A. Garetz, Department of Chemical & Biological Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of NYU, Brooklyn
We have demonstrated that linearly polarized picosecond laser pulses can induce nucleation of the nematic phase from the supercooled isotropic phase in liquid crystal 5CB with the director oriented along the polarization of the incident laser light.
Citation: “Nonphotochemical laser-induced nucleation of nematic phase and alignment of nematic director from a supercooled thermotropic liquid crystal”, X. Sun, B.A. Garetz, M.F. Moreira and P. Palffy-Muhoray, Physical Review E 79, (2009)
Figure: Polarized optical micrographs showing spontaneous nucleation and growth of the nematic phase in 5CB, exhibiting random director. Each frame is separated by 15 minutes. Cooling rate is C/min.