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Nonuniform localized distortions in generalized elasticity for liquid crystals
G De Matteis1,2,3, L Martina1,2, C Naya2
1Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università del Salento, Via per Arnesano, C.P. 73100 Lecce, Italy.
Physical Review. E
|November 20, 2020
Summary
Researchers analyzed liquid crystal free-energy models, discovering new configurations resembling experimental Skyrmion tubes. These findings advance the understanding of complex liquid crystal structures and their potential applications.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Liquid crystals exhibit complex behaviors governed by free-energy functionals.
- Nematic director spatial gradients are crucial for describing liquid crystal phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Virga's generalized free-energy functional for liquid crystals.
- To identify novel liquid crystal configurations and compare them with experimental findings.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of quartic functionals in spatial gradients of the nematic director.
- Review of known solutions like uniform heliconical structures.
- Numerical and analytical approximation of equilibrium differential equations.
Main Results:
- Identification of new liquid crystal configurations.
- Observed resemblance of these configurations to experimental Skyrmion tubes.
- Characterization of new configurations by localized variations in the conical angle.
Conclusions:
- The generalized free-energy model predicts novel liquid crystal structures.
- These structures offer potential explanations for experimentally observed Skyrmion tubes.
- Further investigation into these configurations can deepen the understanding of liquid crystal physics.
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