Patterns of electro-convection in planar-periodic nematic cells

Nematic liquid crystals are anisotropic fluids that can undergo electro-convective instabilities. These instabilities have been extensively studied for nematics in unidirectional planar alignment. We investigate the electro-convective instability patterns in planar-periodic cells, wherein, in the quiescent situation the nematic undergoes static twist deformations separated by defect lines. We find two regimes that depend on the sample thickness. For large thickness, electro-convective patterns are not affected by the twist, and the samples behave as they were in planar unidirec- tional alignment. For small thickness, either the convective motion vertically shifts the defect lines or the twist affects the electro-convective domains and resultant curved patterns are observed.