Orientational transitions in lyotropic nematic mesophases: Optical conoscopic studies

Abstract

Dynamics of orientational and structural transformations between the optical uniaxial and biaxial lyotropic nematic mesophases has been investigated. These transformations have been studied using the polarizing optical microscopy technique and the conoscopic images. Investigations have been carried out both under influence of the external magnetic. field and without this field. Dynamics of transformations of the conoscopic images at structural and thermotropic transitions are presented.