Texturing: A new effect in the dynamic scattering regime of liquid-crystal cells

A phenomenon observed in homeotropically aligned liquid-crystal cells after prolonged excitation in dynamic scattering is presented. The phenomenon, because of its visual appearance, is called texturing and is found to be associated with the induction of a metastable configuration in the liquid crystal. A model for the metastable configuration which is consistent with the experimental observations is proposed. Texturing is undesirable in display applications and has been found to occur in matrix-addressed liquid-crystal cells. © 1974 American Institute of Physics.