Periodic Property of Domain in Nematic Liquid Crystal Induced by Elastic Wave

Periodic domain patterns have been observed in a nematic liquid crystal cell induced by an elastic wave which propagates on a glass plate over a wide frequency range. The frequency dependence of the periodic length of the domain pattern is measured and a numerical analysis of elastic wave propagation is carried out in a sandwiched glass-nematic-glass medium. One of the three modes existing in the liquid crystal cell region is related to the longitudinal wave velocity in the liquid crystal. The longitudinal wave velocity in the nematic liquid crystal N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p'butylaniline)] (MBBA) is evaluated in the relation to the periodicity of the domain pattern.