Presentation created by Ivan I. Smalyukh

"...the study of liquid crystals is complicated because it involves several different scientific disciplines... and also a certain sense of vision in three-dimensional space in order to visualize complex molecular arrangements."

P.G. de Gennes,
Preface to the book
"The Physics of Liquid Crystals"

• Goals
• What are LCs?
• Why 3D imaging is needed?
• Confocal microscopy
• Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy
• Fluorescence Confocal Polarizing Microscopy
• Fast Fluorescence Confocal Polarizing Microscopy
• FCPM versus PM
• Contrast in the FCPM
• Scheme of FCPM at LCI
• Examples of 3D director imaging
  • Nematic
    • Cell Undergoing Frederiks Transition
    • Polar Surface instabilities
    • Kapustin - Williams Domains
  • Twisted nematic
  • Cholesteric
  • Liquid Crystal Emulsions and Dispersions
  • Immune Aggregates in a Liquid Crystal Host
  • Thermotropic SmA
  • Lyotropic lamellar phase
  • Dislocation Kinks
• Let’s scan LC together
• Spatial resolution
• Problems, possible solutions
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• Literature on 3D imaging of LCs

This presentation was presented on the International Liquid Crystal Conference ILCC2002 and awarded the International Liquid Crystal Society 2002 Multimedia Prize. See the review by Patricia E. Cladis, Chairperson of the ILCS Honors and Awards Committee: A Hard Look at Soft Matter on the Angewandte Chemie International Edition homepage: http://www.angewandte.org

The International Liquid Crystal Society Multimedia Prize

The International Liquid Crystal Society Multimedia Prize serves to promote and diffuse knowledge of liquid crystal science and technologies using modern multimedia technologies and the internet. The award is for an outstanding multimedia scientific presentation on liquid crystals or related subjects by a graduate or undergraduate student. The 2002 Multimedia Award includes a $500 (US) cash award and a certificate. Send nominations to Patricia E. Cladis, Chairperson of the ILCS Honors and Awards Committee. See web page http://alct.com/work/ILCS/MultMed/Multi1.htm

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