Topological states in chiral active matter: dynamic blue phases and active half-skyrmions
arXiv:1812.04535 · doi:10.1063/1.5085282
Abstract
We numerically study the dynamics of two-dimensional blue phases in active chiral liquid crystals. We show that introducing contractile activity results in stabilised blue phases, while small extensile activity generates ordered but dynamic blue phases characterised by coherently moving half-skyrmions and disclinations. Increasing extensile activity above a threshold leads to the dissociation of the half-skyrmions and active turbulence. We further analyse isolated active half-skyrmions in an isotropic background and compare the activity-induced velocity fields in simulations to an analytical prediction of the flow. Finally, we show that confining an active blue phase can give rise to a system-wide circulation, in which half-skyrmions and disclinations rotate together.
arXiv comment8 pages, 7 figures. Supplementary movies at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0s1tfn178oi60jz/AAA1Pvpd6455AXqGVaXgOEbHa?dl=0
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- Alignment induced re-configurable walls for patterning and assembly of liquid crystal skyrmions
- Directed Motion of Liquid Crystal Skyrmions With Oscillating Fields
- Topological Phases and Curvature-Driven Pattern Formation in Cholesteric Shells
- Emergent elasticity linked to topological phase transitions controlled via molecular chirality and steric anisotropy