2014/07/31 by Matthew L. Blow, Sumesh P. Thampi, Julia M. Yeomans · 1 citation
Computer Science · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Active matter #Chemical physics #Complex fluid #Condensed matter physics #Instability #Isotropy #Liquid crystal #Liquid crystalline #Lyotropic #Lyotropic liquid crystal #Materials science #Mechanics #Micro and Nano Robotics #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Optics #Phase (matter) #Physics #Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization #Quenching (fluorescence) #Topological defect #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.248303
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 248303 (2014) · 7 pages, 8 figures
openalex publication_date 2014/12/12 · arxiv created 2014/12/16 · arxiv updated 2014/12/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We perform dynamical simulations of a two-dimensional active nematic fluid in coexistence with an isotropic fluid. Drops of active nematic become elongated, and an effective anchoring develops at the nematic-isotropic interface. The activity also causes an undulatory instability of the interface. This results in defects of positive topological charge being ejected into the nematic, leaving the interface with a diffuse negative charge. Quenching the active lyotropic fluid results in a steady state in which phase-separating domains are elongated and then torn apart by active stirring.