Defect order in active nematics on a curved surface

We investigate the effects of extrinsic curvature on the turbulent behavior of a 2D active nematic confined to the surface of a cylinder. The surface of a cylinder has no intrinsic curvature and only extrinsic curvature. A nematic field reacts to the extrinsic curvature by trying to align with the l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New journal of physics 2020-06, Vol.22 (6), p.63051
Main Author: Pearce, D J G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
active matter
active nematics
Curvature
Cylinders
Defects
liquid crystals
Physics
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Summary:We investigate the effects of extrinsic curvature on the turbulent behavior of a 2D active nematic confined to the surface of a cylinder. The surface of a cylinder has no intrinsic curvature and only extrinsic curvature. A nematic field reacts to the extrinsic curvature by trying to align with the lowest principle curvature, in this case parallel to the long axis of the cylinder. When nematics are sufficiently active, there is a proliferation of defects arising from a bend or splay instability depending on the nature of the active stress. The extrinsic curvature of the cylinder breaks the rotational symmetry of this process, implying that defects are created parallel or perpendicular to the cylinder depending on whether the active nematic is contractile or extensile.
ISSN:1367-2630
1367-2630
DOI:10.1088/1367-2630/ab91fd