Pattern Formation in Phase-Separating Gels with Spontaneous Shear

Nariya Uchida

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.025702

Pattern Formation in Phase-Separating Gels with Spontaneous Shear

Soft Condensed Matter 2009-11-07 v1 Statistical Mechanics

Authors: Nariya Uchida

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Abstract

We study pattern formation in gels undergoing simultaneous phase separation and orientational ordering. A 2D numerical simulation is performed using a minimal model of nonlinear elasticity with density-anisotropy coupling. For strong positive coupling, the collapsed phase elongates along the phase boundary and buckles, creating a folded structure with paired topological defects. For negative coupling, soft elasticity of the swollen phase causes a droplet morphology as in liquid-liquid phase separation. Their possible realizations in nematic liquid-crystalline gels are discussed.

Keywords

liquid crystal physics phase separation crystal structure and quasicrystals

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0206419,
  title  = {Pattern Formation in Phase-Separating Gels with Spontaneous Shear},
  author = {Nariya Uchida},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0206419},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

5 pages, 5 figures

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