Morphogenesis in nematic liquid crystal/polymer materials

Materials used in such optical devices as flat panel displays often consist of liquid crystal droplets dispersed in a polymer matrix. Because the behavior of the devices depends on the size, shape, and distribution of these droplets, understanding pattern formation in these materials is crucial for optimal processing. The droplets can be formed in a number of ways, all of which combine the processes of phase separation and orientational ordering. The fact that these two processes are coupled makes this problem both theoretically and computationally challenging.