Quasi-two-dimensional coalescence of nematic and isotropic droplets and Rayleigh–Plateau instability in flat optical cells

Abstract

Different coalescence regimes are observed for isotropic droplets in a nematic environment and nematic droplets in an isotropic environment in flat cells. Wetting conditions on the cell surfaces play a key role in the development of instabilities.

The Dark Annulus of a Drop in a Hele-Shaw Cell Is Caused by the Refraction of Light through Its Meniscus

“…The round, or even circular, meniscus profile was expected because of the small gap height of the Hele-Shaw cell (i.e., Bo < 1). Similarly, Dolganov et al found that the cross-sectional meniscus profile of a liquid crystal drop in a Hele-Shaw cell was close to circular [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Coalescence of biphasic droplets embedded in free standing smectic A films

“…It is interesting to compare our experiment with the coalescence of isotropic droplets separated by a nematic bridge of the same material in flat cells. This scenario was studied by Dolganov et al 93,94 The situation is different there because the experiments were performed in Hele-Shaw cells. The presence of the upper and lower glass plates changes the situation completely.…”