Orientational Correlations in Active and Passive Nematic Defects.
Phys Rev Lett
; 127(19): 197801, 2021 Nov 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34797140
ABSTRACT
We investigate the emergence of orientational order among +1/2 disclinations in active nematic liquid crystals. Using a combination of theoretical and experimental methods, we show that +1/2 disclinations have short-range antiferromagnetic alignment, as a consequence of the elastic torques originating from their polar structure. The presence of intermediate -1/2 disclinations, however, turns this interaction from antialigning to aligning at scales that are smaller than the typical distance between like-sign defects. No long-range orientational order is observed. Strikingly, these effects are insensitive to material properties and qualitatively similar to what is found for defects in passive nematic liquid crystals.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Phys Rev Lett
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Publication country:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
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ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
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EUA
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UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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US
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USA