The Marangoni effect in nematic liquid crystals due to a Gaussian light beam absorption

The absorption of a Gaussian laser beam creates a temperature gradient. In this study, a surface tension gradient was created with a temperature gradient, and this surface tension gradient caused a mass transfer (Marangoni effect). The velocity and the director reorientation, which are the results of the Marangoni effect, were investigated. Both the change of velocity and the reorientation of the director in the r direction followed the gradient of the Gaussian profile of temperature. In addition, applying a magnetic field to the case was studied. The results were found to be in a range that can easily be checked experimentally.