Evolution of linear acoustic domains in a plane layer of a liquid crystal beyond the instability threshold

Abstract

This work experimentally validates for the first time the adequacy of a model describing the abovethreshold dynamics of a system of acoustic linear domains appearing in a plane layer of a nematic liquid crystal under the action of an oscillating hydrodynamic flow induced by shear vibrations at frequencies of the audio range. Values of the domain period are determined at the threshold of the effect and above the threshold up to oscillation amplitudes corresponding to orientational turbulization of the medium in layers with a thickness of 10–80 μm at frequencies of 0.1–20 Hz. The domain period has been determined as a function of the amplitude and oscillation frequency at different values of the layer thickness.