| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R20939/01 |
| Title: |
Experimentally Testing Dynamic Theories of Liquid Crystals |
| Principal Investigator: |
Sambles, Professor Sir JR |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
University of Exeter |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 February 2001 |
Ends: |
31 January 2003 |
Value (£): |
124,706
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Condensed Matter Physics |
Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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It has long been established that back-flow plays an important role in the behaviour of the dynamics of nematic liquid crystal devices. While the theory has been accepted for many years there have been no really stringent tests of its validity. This proposal seeks funding to allow this testing. By using our recently developed convergent beam waveguiding techniques we are able to probe the detailed director structure inside nematic cells during switching. At the present time we have a time resolution of about 50 microseconds which is sufficient for most nematic processes except possibly for pi cells. Having now established this immensely powerful technique we wish to go on to utilise it in fundamental tests of liquid crystal dynamical theory and also to establish values for a range of viscosity coefficients. This proposal is specifically to fund a postdoctoral researcher. Nathan Smith, who has been primarily responsible, as a postgraduate, for the successful implementation of the new technique.Most of the cells to be studied will be fabricated at Exeter although other interested parties, including Sharp, Hewlett-Packard and DERA (Malvern) may wish to provide test cells for study.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ex.ac.uk |