Thermomechanical Effects in Hybrid and Cylindrical-Hybrid Oriented Nematic Liquid Crystals

It is observed and theoretically and experimentally studied thermomechanical flow in hybrid and cylindrical-hybrid oriented nematic liquid crystals (NLCs). The latter corresponds to the cell with homeotropic and axial boundary conditions on the substrates. The thermomechanical flow and rotation of NLC in such cells proceeds due to vertical temperature gradient. We suggest an experimental set up, a new configuration of NLC, for testing one of the twelve relations between twelve thermomechanical coefficients. In order to check the remaining relations between those coefficients it is important to have various configurations of NLC possible via photoalignment technology.