| LCI News |
Sept.
1, 2007 -- Palffy-Muhoray writes
feature article in Physics
Today; cover photo taken by Lavrentovich |
The September issue of Physics
Today prominently features an article, “The
diverse world of liquid crystals”, by Peter Palffy-Muhoray, professor
of chemical physics and associate director of the Liquid Crystal Institute.
The article provides a solid introduction to the field of liquid crystals, including its discovery and development, current and historical research, and many applications from beam steering to cosmetics. Specifically, the article highlights the following aspects of liquid crystals:
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Description and many useful features
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First observations, discovery, and identification of the mesomorphic states of matter, optical applications, synthesis of mesogens (molecules that form liquid crystals)
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Fundamentals, including: liquid crystals classification based on order, description of molecular structure, alignment, many mesophases, phase transitions and the chemical structures of molecules that form liquid crystals
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Development of liquid-crystal displays
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Descriptions of a variety of liquid crystal materials
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Applications in cosmology, astrophysics, lasers, biological systems, cosmetics, spatial light modulation, beam steering, optical imaging, biological sensors, photo actuation, flexoelectricy, medicine, fashion, and eyewear.
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Current studies and possible explanations for current phenomenon
The article is not only accompanied by many helpful photos and visuals
that describe the liquid crystals and applications, but also the Physics
Today magazine cover features a microscopic liquid crystal texture photo
taken by Oleg D. Lavrentovich.
The article can be found on the publication’s web site (for subscribers only) at http://www.physicstoday.org/; its draft version can be found at the e-LC web site, http://www.e-lc.org/index.html.