Abstract
The use of geometry has always been essential in our understanding of the physics of soft matter. This chapter discusses crystalline, and nematic or liquid crystalline. It also discusses the elasticity of crystals and liquid crystals, and provides a classification of the defects in the phases of matter. The chapter explores the fascinating coupling between defects and curvature, and elucidates the role of geometry in this subject. It talks about nematic droplets of toroidal shape. Besides splay and bend, there are two deformations possible in a three-dimensional nematic liquid crystal like twist and saddle-splay. Monte Carlo simulations of nematic shells on uniaxial and biaxial colloidal particles have shown the tendencies for defects to accumulate in the thinnest part and in regions of the highest curvature. Though topology does not prescribe any defects, there is frustration due to the geometric confinement.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Fluids, Colloids and Soft Materials |
| Editors | Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Antonio Manuel Puertas |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Pages | 369-385 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781119220510 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- colloidal particles, curvature, deformations, geometric confinement, nematic droplets, nematic shells, three-dimensional nematic liquid crystal