Effect of spherical magnetic particles on liquid crystals behavior studied by surface acoustic waves

Abstract

The effect of spherical magnetic particles (Fe3O4) on liquid crystals (6CHBT) behavior and structural changes in electric and weak magnetic fields was studied by means of the attenuation of surface acoustic wave (SAW) of frequency 30MHz propagating along ferronematic liquid crystals. Three low volume concentrations (Φ=1×10−5, 1×10−4 and 1×10−3) of spherical magnetic particles were added to liquid crystal during its isotropic phase. In contrast to undoped 6CHTB the distinctive SAW attenuation responses induced by both electric and magnetic fields in studied ferronematic liquid crystals below Fréedericksz transition have been observed suggesting both structural changes and the orientational coupling between magnetic moments of magnetic particles and the director of the liquid crystal. The geometrical re-ranking of magnetic particles was registered only for some orientations of magnetic field. Observed results confirmed the significant influence of the presence of magnetic particles on the structural properties and following behavior of 6CHTB.