Gliding of liquid crystals on soft polymer surfaces.

Magnetic-field-induced reorientation of nematic liquid crystals on polymer layers is studied near the glass transition temperature of the polymer. Kinetic curves for different field strengths and temperatures are presented. A model is developed which takes into account the structural rearrangements in the polymer induced by its interaction with the anisotropic potential of the liquid crystal. Simulations based on the model are in good quantitative agreement with the experimental data.