Simulation of a blue‐phase liquid crystal cell using a multi‐angle director model

Abstract

Abstract A multi‐angle director model is proposed to simulate and interpret the electro‐optical characteristics of a blue‐phase liquid crystal (BPLC) cell driven by vertical and horizontal electric fields. Instead of employing the Kerr effect, the BPLC cell is considered as a stack of several high‐pretilt nematic liquid crystal layers that can be simulated using the director model. Simulations are performed based on the director model and results are compared with those obtained with Kerr‐effect‐based methods. The theoretical model successfully simulated the electro‐optical characteristics of the BPLC, consistent with experimental data. Hence, the model is expected to aid the design of next‐generation BPLC displays.

Keywords

• optical Kerr effect
• nematic liquid crystals
• electro‐optical effects
• liquid crystals