Vortex Lattices in Active Nematics with Periodic Obstacle Arrays

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Schimming, Cody D., Reichhardt, C. J. O., Reichhardt, C.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Schimming, Cody D.
Reichhardt, C. J. O.
Reichhardt, C.
author_facet Schimming, Cody D.
Reichhardt, C. J. O.
Reichhardt, C.
contents We numerically model a two-dimensional active nematic confined by a periodic array of fixed obstacles. Even in the passive nematic, the appearance of topological defects is unavoidable due to planar anchoring by the obstacle surfaces. We show that a vortex lattice state emerges as activity is increased, and that this lattice may be tuned from ``ferromagnetic'' to ``antiferromagnetic'' by varying the gap size between obstacles. We map the rich variety of states exhibited by the system as a function of distance between obstacles and activity, including a pinned defect state, motile defects, the vortex lattice, and active turbulence. We demonstrate that the flows in the active turbulent phase can be tuned by the presence of obstacles, and explore the effects of a frustrated lattice geometry on the vortex lattice phase.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2309_07886
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Vortex Lattices in Active Nematics with Periodic Obstacle Arrays
Schimming, Cody D.
Reichhardt, C. J. O.
Reichhardt, C.
Soft Condensed Matter
We numerically model a two-dimensional active nematic confined by a periodic array of fixed obstacles. Even in the passive nematic, the appearance of topological defects is unavoidable due to planar anchoring by the obstacle surfaces. We show that a vortex lattice state emerges as activity is increased, and that this lattice may be tuned from ``ferromagnetic'' to ``antiferromagnetic'' by varying the gap size between obstacles. We map the rich variety of states exhibited by the system as a function of distance between obstacles and activity, including a pinned defect state, motile defects, the vortex lattice, and active turbulence. We demonstrate that the flows in the active turbulent phase can be tuned by the presence of obstacles, and explore the effects of a frustrated lattice geometry on the vortex lattice phase.
title Vortex Lattices in Active Nematics with Periodic Obstacle Arrays
topic Soft Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.07886