Optical Feathers

Restrained by a capillary, liquid crystals can form featherlike patterns.
Restrained by a capillary, liquid crystals can form featherlike patterns.
Image credit: Joonwoo Jeong, A. G. Yodh, Tom C. Lubensky (University of Pennsylvania), and Peter J. Collings (University of Pennsylvania & Swarthmore College)

This liquid crystal confined in a capillary shows a feather-like texture. This results from the competition between the elasticity of the liquid crystal and anchoring of the liquid crystal to the surface of the capillary.

Related Abstract

Gray arrow  Homeotropic alignment of the lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal Sunset Yellow FCF using pi-pi stacking chemical interactions