Phase-field simulations and experiments of faceted growth in liquid crystals

We present numerical simulations directed at the description of smectic-B germs growing into the supercooled nematic phase for two different liquid crystalline substances. The simulations are done by means of a phase-held model appropriate to study strong anisotropy and also faceted interfaces. The most important ingredient is the angle-dependent surface energy, but kinetic effects are also relevant. The simulations reproduce qualitatively a rich variety of morphologies observed in the experiments for different Values of undercooling, extending from the faceted equilibrium shape to fully developed dendrites.