Liquid crystals are fluids with long range orientational order and no or partial translational order. Continuum descriptions justified on scales much larger than basic entities can based on topological properties of the ordering field, anisotropic elasticity & viscosity, intrinsic deformations, and effects of external constrains provide basic understanding of complex liquid crystal defect structures and dynamics.

Modelling and computer simulations have shown a huge development in the last few years, due also to the increase in computer power and resources. The lecture will introduce state of the art Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics simulations at mesoscopic, molecular and atomistic, predictive, level together with recent examples.

 

Prof. Carsten TSCHIERSKE
(Martin-Luther-Universitat, GERMANY)

The relations between molecular structure and spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking in liquid and liquid crystalline phases formed by permanently and transiently chiral (“chiral” and “achiral”) molecules  will be discussed with focus on recent developments in the fields of bent-core mesogens, chiral cubic, tetragonal and isotropic liquid phases of polycatenar mesogens and the twist-bend nematic phases. Relations between the distinct classes of mirror-symmetry broken LCs and general design rules will be worked out.

Prof. Tomiki IKEDA
(Chuo University, JAPAN & Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CHINA)

Liquid crystals (LCs) show long-range order in alignments, which affords LC materials anisotropic nature in their physical properties. This anisotropic nature of LC materials as well as their fluidity leads to exclusive usage of LCs as display materials. Beyond LC displays, LCs are also promising as functional materials thanks to their anisotropic and self-assembling nature. In this lecture, various functional materials will be presented on the basis of LCs.

Prof. Vladimir CHIGRINOV
(The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HONG KONG)

Liquid crystal (LC) devices for displays and photonics are dominating in the market and will be the basic technology for advanced display and electronics in the nearest 10 years. New liquid crystal devices include ORW E-paper, field sequential color ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) projectors,  photo-patterned quantum rods and 100% polarizers, q-plates,  sensors, switchable lenses, windows with voltage controllable transparency, security films, switchable antennas.

Prof. Kenichi YOSHIKAWA
(Doshisha University, JAPAN)

In living cellular systems, there exist many examples on parallel ordering of biomolecules, including bilayer membrane. Here, we may argue the possible biological importance on the occurrence of liquid-crystalline type ordering in giant genomic DNA molecules above the size of several tens kilo base pairs.