Nikkhou, M orcid.org/0000-0003-4475-3154, Gleeson, HF orcid.org/0000-0002-7494-2100 and Muševič, I orcid.org/0000-0002-0200-1766 (2018) Creation and topological charge switching of defect loops on a long fibre in the nematic liquid crystal. Liquid Crystals, 45 (13-15). pp. 2294-2305. ISSN 0267-8292
Abstract
We demonstrate new type of topological defects on a homeotropic fibre aligned perpendicular to the nematic director in a planar nematic cell. Contrary to expectations we can create defect loops which are encircling the fibre along its short axis and are strongly tilted with respect to the fibre. Such loops are always accompanied by two topological solitons, which emanate from the loop and propagate to the left- and right-hand side of the fibre. Unlike previously reported closed loops of either positive and negative charge, encircling the fibre parallel to the nematic director, these loops can carry either positive or negative charge, or can be charge neutral and very stable. We show how to switch the charge of individual loops from positive to neutral and negative charge by adding unit monopoles of appropriate topological charge. We demonstrate new type of interaction of dipolar colloids with these new topological entities on a fibre.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Liquid Crystals on 7 Aug 2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2018.1500653. |
Keywords: | Microconfined liquid crystals; topological defect; homeotropic fibre; colloidal interaction; entanglement; anchoring; liquid-solid interfaces |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Soft Matter Physics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Aug 2018 14:34 |
Last Modified: | 17 Dec 2024 11:26 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/02678292.2018.1500653 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:134310 |