Singular Optics of Liquid Crystal Defects

Machine learning methods for liquid crystal research: phases, textures, defects and physical properties

“…Initially, defects in LCs were investigated as a laboratory system for studying superconductivity and the evolution of the early universe. 47,48 Further development of controllable generation and stabilization of topological defect and defect structures allowed the engineering of functional defect networks and arrays, [49][50][51][52] that contributed to multiple practically oriented developments, from smart optical elements 53,54 and templates for the controllable self-assembly 55,56 to tunable plasmonic and metamaterials. [57][58][59][60] Topogical defects also play a vital role in biological and active matter.…”

Geometric theory of topological defects: methodological developments and new trends

“…Another possibility to guide light beams is to use optical waveguides with nematic cores in radial escaped disclination configurations: the defocusing due to natural diffraction is compensated by the converging lens effect resulting form negative birefringence [187][188][189][190][191].…”