Structure formation of a cholesteric liquid crystalline droplet with topological reconnection and Lehmann rotation

Structural formation process in a cylindrical cholesteric droplet with air interface was observed and analyzed. A specific control of temperature change process enabled us to switch the final structure obtained as a result of the formation, via reconnection of loop defects in the transient state during the structure formation. Simultaneously, the existence of the gradient resulted in the characteristic rotational phenomenon called Lehmann rotation, which is remarkably induced again in the transient state. It is considered that these reconnection and rotation phenomena are induced by the Marangoni convection, due to the existence of the temperature gradient.