5 papers
Defect Kinematics in 2D Nematics: Contributions from Surface Topology, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Geometry, Solitons, Defect Orientations, and Elastic Anisotropy
Joseph Pollard, Richard G. Morris
We characterise the particlelike kinematics of charge-carrying topological defects in nematic media via a geometric field theory. This differs from the theory of electromagnetism,…
Geometric Frustration in Twist-Bend Nematic Droplets
Joseph Pollard, Richard G. Morris
Liquid crystals formed of bent-core molecules are exotic materials that exhibit the twist-bend nematic phase. This arises when an energetic preference for nonzero local bend distor…
Defect Dynamics in Cholesterics: Beyond the Peach-Koehler Force
Joseph Pollard, Richard G. Morris
The Peach-Koehler force between disclination lines was originally formulated in the study of crystalline solids, and has since been adopted to provide a notion of interactions betw…
Morse Theory and Meron Mediated Interactions Between Disclination Lines in Nematics
Joseph Pollard, Richard G. Morris
The topological understanding of nematic liquid crystals is traditionally centered on singularities, or defects, and their classification via homotopy theory. However, this approac…
Gauge Freedom and Objective Rates in the Morphodynamics of Fluid Deformable Surfaces: the Jaumann Rate vs. the Material Derivative
Joseph Pollard, Sami Al-Izzi, Richard G. Morris
Morphodynamic descriptions of fluid deformable surfaces are relevant for a range of biological and soft matter phenomena, spanning materials that can be passive or active, as well…