Magnetic segregation effect in liquid crystals doped with carbon nanotubes.

We study the orientational transitions in a suspension of carbon nanotubes in a nematic liquid crystal induced by an external magnetic field. The case of a finite orientational anchoring of liquid crystal molecules at the surface of doped carbon nanotubes is considered. It is shown that in a magnetic field the initial homogeneous planar texture of the liquid crystal-carbon nanotubes mixture is disturbed in a threshold manner (Fréedericksz transition).

Magnetic field induced orientational transitions in liquid crystals doped with carbon nanotubes.

We propose a continuum theory of orientational phase transitions induced by an external magnetic field in a suspension of carbon nanotubes in a nematic liquid crystal. It is shown that in a magnetic field a non-uniform and two different uniform phases are possible in the suspension. The uniform phases of the suspension differ by the type of orientational coupling of nanotubes with the liquid crystal matrix (the planar type when the nanotubes are oriented along the matrix director, and the homeotropic type when the nanotubes are perpendicular to the director).

Ferrocholesteric-ferronematic transitions induced by shear flow and magnetic field.

We study the unwinding of the ferrocholesteric helical structure induced by a combined action of a magnetic field and a shear flow. Both influences are able to induce the ferrocholesteric-ferronematic transition independently; however, the differences between the magnetic field orientation and the flow alignment direction lead to a competition between magnetic and hydrodynamic mechanisms of influence on the ferrocholesteric structure. We analyze various orientations of a magnetic field relative to the direction of a shear flow.

Dynamics of liquid-crystalline magnetic suspensions in a rotating magnetic field.

We theoretically study the dynamics of the orientational structure of a ferronematic liquid crystal with soft planar coupling between the director and the magnetization in a rotating magnetic field. We determine critical parameters characterizing the boundary between synchronous and asynchronous rotation regimes. We show that the magnetic impurity increases the stability threshold of an asynchronous rotation regime.