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Figure 1: The initial condition for the simulations. An array of 5CB molecules is positioned in a planar orientation at the surface of the amorphous polyethylene.

  
Figure 2: This plot shows the results of a numerical experiment to determine the average order parameter and its standard deviation in an ensemble of N randomly oriented molecules.

  
Figure 3: Order parameter as a function of temperature (K) in the absence of the polymer substrate.

  
Figure 4: Final state of a simulation during which the 5CB molecules have switched from planar to nearly homeotropic orientation.

  
Figure 5: This figure shows the three eigenvalues of the order parameter matrix as a function of time. The unit of time is 0.1 ps. The eigenvalue that is initially the largest is associated with an eigenvector that lies primarily along the x-axis. The eigenvalue that it crosses at 7 ps corresponds to an eigenvector that lies primarily along the y-axis.

  
Figure 6: Normalized eigenvectors plotted as points on a unit sphere. The clusters of points at opposite sides of the sphere correspond to the same eigenvector. We see that the orientations have not rotated during the simulation.

  
Figure 7: This figure shows the three eigenvalues of the order parameter matrix as a function of time. The unit of time is 0.1 ps. In this simulation, eigenvalues come close to each other but they do not cross.

  
Figure 8: Normalized eigenvectors plotted as points on a unit sphere. Points at opposite sides of the sphere correspond to the same eigenvector. In this case the eigenvectors have rotated by roughly 90 degrees.