Magnetically controlled double-twist director configuration of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals in cylinders: Energetics, topological defects, and instability
Phys. Rev. E 113, 015418 – Published 26 January, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/fyrr-2rh7
Abstract
We study experimentally how the double-twist (DT) configuration of cylindrically confined lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) responds to axial magnetic fields. Our director field model unveils the energetics behind the magnetic-field-induced transition in the twist profile of the DT configuration. Additionally, we catalog three different types of topological defects—residing between the DT domains of opposite handedness—before and after the field application, and propose a new director field model for the defect with a ring disclination. Lastly, we report a symmetry-breaking instability occurring when the field strength exceeds a critical value, suggesting an eccentric DT director field model that reproduces a helixlike optical texture. Our systematic investigation not only enhances our understanding of LCLC energetics but also provides potential for precise control over DT configurations.
