Backflow-induced asymmetric collapse of disclination lines in liquid crystals

We present experiments where opposed pairs of planar parallel disclination lines of topological strength s=±1 move due to their mutual attraction. Our measurements show that their motion is clearly asymmetric, with +1 defects moving up to twice as fast as -1 ones. This is a clear indication of backf...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Oswald, Patrick, Ignés i Mullol, Jordi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2005
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/13265
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/13265
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cristal·lografia
Reologia
Cristalls líquids
Crystallography
Rheology
Liquid crystals
Descripción
Sumario:We present experiments where opposed pairs of planar parallel disclination lines of topological strength s=±1 move due to their mutual attraction. Our measurements show that their motion is clearly asymmetric, with +1 defects moving up to twice as fast as -1 ones. This is a clear indication of backflow, given the intrinsic isotropic elasticity of our system. A phenomenological model is able to account for the experimental observations by renormalizing the orientational diffusivity estimated from the velocity of each defect.