The Role Of Flexoelectricity In Pattern Formation

In this chapter the influence of flexoelectricity on pattern formation induced by an electric field in nematics will be summarized. Two types of patterns will be discussed in the linear regime, the equilibrium structure of flexoelectric domains and the dissipative electroconvection (EC) rolls. In a separate section, recent experimental and theoretical results on the competition and crossover between the flexoelectric domains and EC patterns will be described.