Field-induced motion of nematic disclinations
| dc.creator | Biscari, Paolo | |
| dc.creator | Sluckin, Timothy J. | |
| dc.date | 2004-11-15 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T03:02:07Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T03:02:07Z | |
| dc.description | An individual defect in a nematic liquid crystal moves not only in response to its interaction with other defects but also in response to an external field. We analyze the motion of a wedge disclination in the presence of an applied field of strength $H$. We neglect backflow and seek steadily travelling patterns. The stationary picture yields a semi-infinite wall of strength $π$, bounded by the defect line. We find that the disclination advances into the region containing the wall at velocity $v(H)$, where $v$ scales as $H/|\log H|$ as long as the magnetic coherence length is greater than the core radius. When the external field is applied in the presence of a pair of disclinations, their dynamics is strongly influenced. We compute the expected relative velocity of the disclinations as a function of distance and field. The natural tendency for the disclinations to annihilate each other can be overcome by a sufficiently strong field suitably directed. | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0411371 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0411371 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/25284 | |
| dc.subject | Soft Condensed Matter | |
| dc.subject | Materials Science | |
| dc.title | Field-induced motion of nematic disclinations | |
| dc.type | text |