2009/02/20 by V. M. Pergamenshchik, Pergamenshchik, V. M., V. A. Uzunova +1
Computer Science · Materials Science · #FOS: Physical sciences #Liquid Crystal Research Advancements #Material Dynamics and Properties #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0902.3543
openalex publication_date 2009/02/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We show that the elastic charge of colloids in a nematic liquid crystal can be generated by the vector of external torque. The torque components play the role of two component charge (dyad) and give rise to the Coulomb-like potential, while their conservation law plays the role similar to that of Gauss' theorem in the electrostatics. The theory is applied to the colloid-surface interaction. A wall with homeotropic or planar director is shown to induce a repulsive 1/r4 force on the elastic dipole. The external torque, however, induces the elastic charge in this colloid and triggers switching to the 1/r2 repulsion.