Second Semester Research Project

Liquid Crystal: a stable state of matter between the solid and liquid states of some materials.

• Plays a crucial role in the emerging field of soft matter• Basis for a huge portion of the display industry (LCDs)

Peter CollingsEmeritus Prof. of PhysicsSC 118pcollin1@swarthmore.edu

Project: Investigate a new water-based liquid crystal that spontaneously twists.

• Optical and thermodynamic measurements

• Interdisciplinary (physics and chemistry)

• Advanced physics not necessary• Very little chemistry needed• Second semester (can start slowly

now if interested)• Amount of time/credit up to student• Most of the work done at

Swarthmore, but some at Penn

Droplet of liquid crystal growing (notice the twist)

Regions of left-and right-handed twist