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

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

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: 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 survive collisions. The solitons are topologically equivalent to the uniform state and have no static analogs, thus exhibiting a particle–wave duality. Their shape, speed, and interactions depend strongly on the material parameters, which opens the door for a broad range of future studies.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05101-y

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