Electrically driven three-dimensional solitary waves as director bullets in nematic liquid crystals.

ABSTRACT: Electric field-induced collective reorientation of nematic molecules is of importance for fundamental science and practical applications. This reorientation is either homogeneous over the area of electrodes, as in displays, or periodically modulated, as in electroconvection. The question is whether spatially localized three-dimensional solitary waves of molecular reorientation could be created. Here we demonstrate that the electric field can produce particle-like propagating solitary waves representing self-trapped "bullets" of oscillating molecular director. These director bullets lack fore-aft symmetry and move with very high speed perpendicularly to the electric field and to the initial alignment direction. The bullets are true solitons that preserve spatially confined shapes and surviv

SUBMITTER: Li BX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6060142 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature