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. 2015 Mar 30;112(15):E1837–E1844. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1423220112

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4.

Chirality of nematic SSY defects in a cylinder. The pass axis directions of a polarizer (P) and an analyzer (N) are shown as single-headed yellow arrows, and the slow axis of the wave plate is shown as a double-headed blue arrow. (Top) POM images taken between crossed polarizers and a full-wave plate under monochromatic illumination (wavelength = 650 nm), (Middle) the corresponding simulated POM patterns, and (Bottom) schematic diagrams of (A) a radial defect, (B) a hyperbolic defect, and (C) a domain wall. The concentration and temperature of the SSY are 31.5% (wt/wt) and 25.0 °C, respectively. In the schematic diagrams, thin black lines depict director configurations around the singular defects. Thick straight arrows and rotating arrows represent escape directions and handedness, respectively (blue, left-handedness; red, right-handedness). (D and E) POM images of 31% (wt/wt) SSY in a capillary at (D) 40 °C and (E) 38 °C under polychromatic illumination. White dashed lines separate nematic domains, and each nematic domain is labeled with the escape direction of the LC directors [i.e., to the east (E) or west (W)], the handedness of the twist is labeled right-handed (R) or left-handed (L), and the number indicates whether the domain is first, second, third, etc. for each type of domain starting from the left. East (west) corresponds to a direction toward z > 0 (z < 0) (Fig. 1). For example, the WR1 domain is the first (i.e., 1; starting from the left) right-handed domain for which LC directors escape toward the west direction. Hyperbolic defects (Hs), radial defects (Rs), and domain walls (DWs) are labeled in a similar way and marked by white single-headed arrows. The table specifies the meanings of the abbreviations. Note that three isotropic-phase droplets separate the nematic domains in D, where SSY is in a nematic–isotropic coexistence phase. (F and G) Schematic diagrams of (F) a radial defect of the same handedness and (G) a radial defect of the opposite handedness with a domain wall. Yellow rods represent LC directors, and the labels correspond to those in D and E. (Scale bar: 100 μm.)