Nematic tactoid population

Paparini, Silvia; Virga, Epifanio G.

doi:10.1103/physreve.103.022707

Cited by 9 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…The shape of R is unknown and needs to be determined. Since n is tangent to ∂R, following [17] we device a method that also derives n inside R from the knowledge of ∂R, thus reducing the total free energy F to a pure shape functional. This is achieved by retracting ∂R inside R with its tangent field n.…”

Section: Director Retractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we follow closely [17], albeit in a two-dimensional setting, in an attempt to restrict the admissible shapes of drops to a special family amenable to a simple analytical treatment. The admissible drop profiles will be described by the function 5…”

Section: Special Family Of Shapesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where a and b are real parameters that must be chosen subject to the requirements that R(y) ≧ 0 for all −µ ≦ y ≦ µ and that (10) is satisfied. It is a simple matter to show (see also [17]) that a and b can be expressed in terms of the free parameters (φ, µ) that span the configuration space…”

Section: Special Family Of Shapesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, we adapt to the two-dimensional setting our theory for the representation of tactoids recently presented in [17]. We shall achieve two main results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In Sec. II, we recall from [17] our theory and adapt it to the present twodimensional setting. The optimal shapes of bipolar droplets that minimize the total free-energy functional are derived and discussed in Sec.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shape Bistability in Squeezed Chromonic Droplets

Paparini,

Virga

2021

Preprint

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We study droplets of chromonic liquid crystals squeezed between parallel plates inducing degenerate tangential anchoring on the nematic director. In the coexistence regime, where droplets in the nematic phase are at equilibrium with the surrounding melt, our two-dimensional theoretical model predicts a regime of shape bistability for sufficiently large bipolar droplets, where tactoids (pointed shapes) and discoids (smooth shapes) coexist in equilibrium. This phenomenon has not yet been observed. Two-dimensional droplets of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) have been the object of a thorough experimental study [Y.-K. Kim et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 25, 404202 (2013)]. We show that our theory is in good quantitative agreement with these data and extract from them what promises to be a more accurate estimate for the isotropic surface tension at the nematic/melt interface of DSCG.

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Section: Director Retractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Special Family Of Shapesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Special Family Of Shapesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, we adapt to the two-dimensional setting our theory for the representation of tactoids recently presented in [17]. We shall achieve two main results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shape Bistability in Squeezed Chromonic Droplets

Paparini,

Virga

2021

Preprint

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A nematic liquid crystal with an immersed body: equilibrium, stress and paradox

Chandler

Spagnolie

2023

J. Fluid Mech.

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We examine the equilibrium configurations of a nematic liquid crystal with an immersed body in two dimensions. A complex variables formulation provides a means for finding analytical solutions in the case of strong anchoring. Local tractions, forces and torques on the body are discussed in a general setting. For weak (finite) anchoring strengths, an effective boundary technique is proposed which is used to determine asymptotic solutions. The energy-minimizing locations of topological defects on the body surface are also discussed. A number of examples are provided, including circular and triangular bodies, and a Janus particle with hybrid anchoring conditions. Analogies to classical results in fluid dynamics are identified, including d'Alembert's paradox, Stokes’ paradox and the Kutta condition for circulation selection.

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