Structural Changes in Liquid Crystals Doped with Rod-Like Magnetic Particles Studied by Surface Acoustic Waves

The effect of rod-like magnetic particles on liquid crystal (6CHBT) structural changes in electric and weak magnetic fields were studied by means of the attenuation of surface acoustic wave of frequency 30 MHz propagating along ferronematic liquid crystals. Three low volume concentrations (Φ=1×10¯⁵, 1×10¯⁴ and 1×10¯³) of rod-like magnetic particles were added to liquid crystal during its isotropic phase. Several measurements including the investigation of the effects of electrical and magnetic fields applied both separately and in conjunction as well as the influence of temperature on the surface acoustic wave attenuation were performed. The distinctive surface acoustic wave attenuation responses induced by both electric and magnetic fields in studied ferronematic liquid crystals have been observed suggesting both structural changes and the orientational coupling between magnetic moments of magnetic particles and the director of the liquid crystal. Obtained results confirmed the significant influence of the presence of magnetic particles on the structural properties and resulting behavior of 6CHBT liquid crystal.