Ralf Stannarius, featured ILCC liquid crystal artist, December 2010
This photo, taken by Ines-Ute Grodrian and Ralf Stannarius shows a glycerol droplet of 30 micrometer diameter, embedded in a free-standing smectic C* film of a commercial liquid crystal (Clariant Felix-16). Under crossed polarizers in the reflection microscope, the submicrometer thick film appears with a characteristic Schlieren texture. The droplet is surrounded by a meniscus of the film material, which is decorated with a colorful corona-like pattern (so-called surface splay domains). The image was taken at room temperature..
Jury comment: This picture has been selected for the beauty of the texture in the free-standing film which is enhanced around the inclusion.
Jury comment: This picture has been selected for the beauty of the texture in the free-standing film which is enhanced around the inclusion.