Figure 2. Disclination generation from topological patterns created with a spiral slit.

POM images of liquid crystal cells with disclination strengths (s, c)=(1, 0) (a), (s, c)=(2, 0) (b) and (s, c)=(3, 0) (c), when the lateral separation of the two substrates is 0. Scale bars, 100 μm. (d–f) POM images of the same sample as in a–c after separating the patterns on the two substrates by 200 μm. Spatial distribution of the twist angle for substrates with spiral orientational patterns (s, c)=(1, 0) (g), (s, c)=(2, 0) (h) and (s, c)=(3, 0) (i), calculated by placing the defect centres of the top and bottom substrates at (0.4X, 0.5X) and (0.6X, 0.5X), respectively, where X is the width of the figure.