Chromonic liquid crystals constitute a novel lyotropic phase, whose elastic properties have so far been modeled within the classical Oseen-Frank theory, provided that the twist constant is assumed to be considerably smaller than the saddle-splay constant, in violation of one Ericksen inequality. This paper shows that paradoxical consequences follow from such a violation for droplets of these materials surrounded by an isotropic fluid. For example, tactoids with a degenerate planar anchoring simply disintegrate indefinitely in myriads of smaller ones.
Paradoxes for chromonic liquid crystal droplets
Paparini, Silvia;Virga, Epifanio G.
2022-01-01
Abstract
Chromonic liquid crystals constitute a novel lyotropic phase, whose elastic properties have so far been modeled within the classical Oseen-Frank theory, provided that the twist constant is assumed to be considerably smaller than the saddle-splay constant, in violation of one Ericksen inequality. This paper shows that paradoxical consequences follow from such a violation for droplets of these materials surrounded by an isotropic fluid. For example, tactoids with a degenerate planar anchoring simply disintegrate indefinitely in myriads of smaller ones.File in questo prodotto:
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