Cascade Formation of Topological Defects and Satellite Droplets in Liquid Crystals at Dynamic Capillary Instability

Abstract

The formation of topological defects at the nematic–isotropic liquid interface and near satellite droplets has been detected at the breakup and fragmentation of the bridge of the isotropic phase between nematic domains. This process has been implemented in thin optical cells filled with a liquid crystal. The critical width of the bridge at which a universal time dependence of its width is determined by the capillary velocity (ratio of the surface tension to the viscosity) has been determined.