Early time evolution of Freédericksz patterns generated from states of electroconvection

Abstract

We report on the early time ordering in a nematic liquid crystal subjected to a sudden change in an external ac electric field. We compare time evolution for two different initial states of electroconvection. Electroconvection is a highly driven state of a nematic liquid crystal involving convective motion of the fluid and periodic variations of the molecular alignment. By suddenly changing either the voltage or the frequency of the applied ac field, the system is brought to the same thermodynamic conditions. The time ordering of the system is characterized by the evolution of features of the power spectrum, including the average wave number, total power, and shape of the power spectrum. We observe that ordering of the system occurs faster after a sudden change in frequency than it does after a sudden change in voltage.