2018/03/22 by Christopher Conklin, Conklin, Christopher, Jorge Viñals +3
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Liquid Crystal Research Advancements #Micro and Nano Robotics #Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1803.08465
openalex publication_date 2018/03/22 · openalex created_date 2022/10/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We develop a formal analogy between configurational stresses in two distinct\nphysical systems, and study the flows that they induce when the configurations\nof interest include topological de- fects. The two systems in question are\nelectrokinetic flows in a nematic fluid under an applied electrostatic field,\nand the motion of self propelling or active particles in a nematic matrix (a\nliving liquid crystal). The mapping allows the extension, within certain\nlimits, of existing results on trans- port in electrokinetic systems to self\npropelled transport. We study motion induced by a pair of point defects in a\ndipole configuration, and steady rotating flows due to a swirling vortex\nnematic director pattern. The connection presented allows the design of\nelectrokinetic experiments that correspond to particular active matter\nconfigurations that may, however, be easier to conduct and control in the\nlaboratory.\n