Figure 2. Complex metastable states.

Examples of complex metastable topological structures in cholesteric droplets with perpendicular surface anchoring. Experimental conditions: pitch p=55 μm, droplet diameter d=105 μm (a,c) and d=125 μm (b,d) which correspond to N=3.8 and N=4.5. (a,b) XPOL imaging. (c,d) FT imaging. Scale bar, 50 μm. Bottom row: illustration of a few numerically predicted non-trivial topological states in ref. 10 when N=5, which consist of one (e) two (f) three (g) and four (h) disclination loops that are knotted or linked, as indicated in the insets. Sketches adapted from ref. 10.