Three-dimensional solitary waves with electrically tunable direction of propagation in nematics

Bing-Xiang Li, Rui-Lin Xiao, Sathyanarayana Paladugu, Sergij V. Shiyanovskii and Oleg D. Lavrentovich ()
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Bing-Xiang Li: Kent State University
Rui-Lin Xiao: Kent State University
Sathyanarayana Paladugu: Kent State University
Sergij V. Shiyanovskii: Kent State University
Oleg D. Lavrentovich: Kent State University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Production of stable multidimensional solitary waves is a grand challenge in modern science. Steering their propagation is an even harder problem. Here we demonstrate three-dimensional solitary waves in a nematic, trajectories of which can be steered by the electric field in a plane perpendicular to the field. The steering does not modify the properties of the background that remains uniform. These localized waves, called director bullets, are topologically unprotected multidimensional solitons of (3 + 2)D type that show fore-aft and right-left asymmetry with respect to the background molecular director; the symmetry is controlled by the field. Besides adding a whole dimension to the propagation direction and enabling controlled steering, the solitons can lead to applications such as targeted delivery of information and micro-cargo.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11768-8

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