Figure 5.

Multiple cross-section views of a distorted cholesteric domain with final orientation βʹ ≈ 9.8°, ϕʹ = 0°, after a compression of $\alpha$ = 0.1 from an original orientation β = 60°, ϕ = 0°. The local orientation of ${\widehat{\mathbf{n}}}^{\prime }$ is depicted by small arrows, while the continuity of ${\widehat{\mathbf{n}}}^{\prime }$ across each face leads to the Bouligand arches, depicted by full lines. (a) corner view in perspective; (b) top view, generating periodic variations Δ= pʹ(βʹ) /(2sinβʹ) of ${\widehat{\mathbf{n}}}^{\prime }$, usually in the micron range, (c) cross-section in the plane containing ${\widehat{\mathbf{m}}}^{\prime }$ (i.e., at an azimuthal angle Δϕʹ = 0° (d) cross-section at an azimuthal angle Δϕʹ = 30° leading to asymmetric Bouligand arches, arising from the distortion of the cholesteric order (the dotted line highlights the asymmetry), (e) cross-section in the (${\widehat{\mathbf{m}}}^{\prime }$, $\widehat{\mathbf{z}}$) plane (i.e., at an azimuthal angle Δϕʹ = 90°), leading to symmetric Bouligand arches, in spite of the distortion of the cholesteric order.