The Cosmological Kibble Mechanism in the Laboratory: String Formation in Liquid Crystals

Abstract

I report on the observation of the production of strings (disclination lines and loops) via the Kibble mechanism of domain (bubble) formation in the isotropic to nematic phase transition of a sample of uniaxial nematic liquid crystal. The probablity of string formation per bubble is measured to be $0.33\pm 0.01$. This is in good agreement with the theoretical value $1/\pi$ expected in two dimensions for the order parameter space $S^2/{\mathbf{Z}}_2$ of a simple uniaxial nematic liquid crystal. ( NB: The only change is a correction of the preprint number for proper referencing and the title page.)

arXiv comment11 pages , Harvmac, SUHEP-4241-518, plus two figures not included