Work

Singular twist waves in chromonic liquid crystals

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Chromonic liquid crystals are lyotropic nematic phases whose applications span from food to drug industries. It has recently been suggested that the elastic energy density governing the equilibrium distortions of these materials may be quartic in the measure of twist . Here we show that the non-linear twist-wave equation associated with such an energy has smooth solutions that break down in a finite time, giving rise to the formation of a shock wave, under rather generic assumptions on the initial profile. The critical time at which smooth solutions become singular is estimated analytically with an accuracy that numerical calculations for a number of exemplary cases prove to be satisfactory.

Source: Wave Motion

DOI: 10.1016/j.wavemoti.2024.103486

Authors: Silvia Paparini, Epifanio G. Virga

Institution: University of Pavia

Language: English

Topic: Liquid Crystal Research Advancements

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090

Funders: Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica "Francesco Severi", Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica Matematica