We study the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on thermotropic nematic liquid crystals (LCs) in relatively dilute NP–LC mixtures. We are interested in the fundamental generic mechanisms that quantitatively and qualitatively affect the phase behavior of LCs. A simple molecular field analysis shows that a phase transition will likely occur upon entry into the ordered phase. Moreover, the interaction between nematogenic NPs and LCs could force a sergeant–soldier-like behavior, in which only the phase behavior of one component is affected despite the symmetric appearance of the coupling term. When NPs are anisotropic, their influence on LC phase behavior can be qualitatively different depending on the anchoring, even in the absence of the disorder. We illustrate numerically that a random-field-type disorder might impose either short-range, quasi-long-range, or even long-range order, which might survive.

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We consider history-dependent behavior in domain-type configurations in orientational order that are formed in configurations reached via continuous symmetry-breaking phase transitions. In equilibrium, these systems exhibit in absence of impurities a spatially homogeneous order. We focus on cases where domains are formed via (i) Kibble-Zurek mechanism in fast enough quenches or by (ii) Kibble mechanism in strongly supercooled phases. In both cases, domains could be arrested due to pinned topological defects that are formed at domain walls. In systems exhibiting polar or quadrupolar order, point and line defects (disclinations) dominate, respectively. In particular, the disclinations could form complex entangled structures and are more efficient in stabilizing domains. Domain patterns formed by fast quenches could be arrested by impurities imposing a strong enough random-field type disorder, as suggested by the Imry-Ma theorem. On the other hand, domains formed in supercooled systems could be also formed if large enough energy barriers arresting domains are established due to large enough systems’ stiffness. The resulting effective interactions in established domain-type patterns could be described by random matrices. The resulting eigenvectors reveal expected structural excitations formed in such structures. The most important role is commonly played by the random matrix largest eigenvector. Qualitatively different behavior is expected if this eigenvector exhibits a localized or extended character. In the former case, one expects a gradual, non-critical-type transition into a glass-type structure. However, in the latter case, a critical-like phase behavior could be observed. Graphical abstract

We considered general mechanisms enabling the stabilization of localized assemblies of topological defects (TDs). There is growing evidence that physical fields represent fundamental natural entities, and therefore these features are of interest to all branches of physics. In general, cores of TDs are energetically costly, and consequently, assemblies of TDs are unfavorable. Owing to the richness of universalities in the physics of TDs, it is of interest to identify systems where they are easily experimentally accessible, enabling detailed and well-controlled analysis of their universal behavior, and cross-fertilizing knowledge in different areas of physics. In this respect, thermotropic nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) represent an ideal experiment testbed for such studies. In addition, TDs in NLCs could be exploited in several applications. We present examples that emphasize the importance of curvature imposed on the phase component of the relevant order parameter field. In NLCs, it is represented by the nematic tensor order parameter. Using a simple Landau-type approach, we show how the coupling between chirality and saddle splay elasticity, which can be expressed as a Gaussian curvature contribution, can stabilize Meron TDs. The latter have numerous analogs in other branches of physics. TDs in 2D curved manifolds reveal that the Gaussian curvature dominantly impacts the assembling and stabilization of TDs. Furthermore, a strong enough curvature that serves as an attractor for TDs is a respective field that could be imposed in a fast enough phase transition. Assemblies of created TDs created in such a disordered environment could be stabilized by appropriate impurities.