Manipulation of mechanically nanopatterned line defect assemblies in plane-parallel nematic liquid crystals

Harkai, Saša; Cordoyiannis, George; Susser, Adam L.; Murray, Bryce S.; Ferris, Andrew J.; Rožič, B.; Kutnjak, Zdravko; Rosenblatt, Charles; Kralj, Samo

doi:10.1080/21680396.2022.2042745

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 168 publications

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“…Therefore, these TDs are most ubiquitous in the early regime. They weakly interact with the surrounding nematic structure, and they gradually vanish because they are not topologically protected. , Recent studies , suggest that these disclinations can act simultaneously like defects and antidefects . This remains somehow for Majorna particles and neutrinos, the behaviors of which are still not fundamentally understood.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable Assemblies of Topological Defects in Nematic Orientational Order

et al. 2022

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We considered general mechanisms enabling the stabilization of localized assemblies of topological defects (TDs). There is growing evidence that physical fields represent fundamental natural entities, and therefore these features are of interest to all branches of physics. In general, cores of TDs are energetically costly, and consequently, assemblies of TDs are unfavorable. Owing to the richness of universalities in the physics of TDs, it is of interest to identify systems where they are easily experimentally accessible, enabling detailed and well-controlled analysis of their universal behavior, and cross-fertilizing knowledge in different areas of physics. In this respect, thermotropic nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) represent an ideal experiment testbed for such studies. In addition, TDs in NLCs could be exploited in several applications. We present examples that emphasize the importance of curvature imposed on the phase component of the relevant order parameter field. In NLCs, it is represented by the nematic tensor order parameter. Using a simple Landau-type approach, we show how the coupling between chirality and saddle splay elasticity, which can be expressed as a Gaussian curvature contribution, can stabilize Meron TDs. The latter have numerous analogs in other branches of physics. TDs in 2D curved manifolds reveal that the Gaussian curvature dominantly impacts the assembling and stabilization of TDs. Furthermore, a strong enough curvature that serves as an attractor for TDs is a respective field that could be imposed in a fast enough phase transition. Assemblies of created TDs created in such a disordered environment could be stabilized by appropriate impurities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable Assemblies of Topological Defects in Nematic Orientational Order

et al. 2022

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“…Geometry of disclinations networks has been theoretically investigated in the literature, sometimes allowing for analytical expressions for the metric tensor [150][151][152]. Several authors have shown the possibility to design arrays of topological linear defects from photopatterning techniques [153][154][155][156][157] and even to manipulate them [158,159]. If this last point opens the possibility to emulate collisions between particles in the 2+1 model, it is even more interesting for the extension of the Deser, Jackiw and 't Hooft model to 3+1 dimensions [70]: matter particles are represented by a gas of piecewise straight string segments that are likely to collide with a higher frequency.…”

Section: B Beyond Cosmic Wedge Disclinationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric theory of topological defects: methodological developments and new trends

Fumeron

Berche

Moraes

2021

Liquid Crystals Reviews

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Liquid crystals generally support orientational singularities of the director field known as topological defects. These latter modifiy transport properties in their vicinity as if the geometry was non-Euclidean. We present a state of the art of the differential geometry of nematic liquid crystals, with a special emphasis on linear defects. We then discuss unexpected but deep connections with cosmology and high-energy-physics, and conclude with a review on defect engineering for transport phenomena.

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