Phase separation and disorder in doped nematic elastomers

M. H. Köpf, L. M. Pismen

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9 Scopus citations

Abstract

We formulate and analyse a model describing the combined effect of mechanical deformation, dynamics of the nematic order parameter, and concentration inhomogeneities in an elastomeric mixture of a mesogenic and an isotropic component. The uniform nematic state may exhibit a long-wave instability corresponding to nematic-isotropic demixing. Numerical simulations starting from either a perfectly ordered nematic state or a quenched isotropic state show that coupling between the mesogen concentration and the nematic order parameter influences the shape and orientation of the domains formed during the demixing process. © EDP Sciences/ Società Italiana di Fisica/ Springer-Verlag 2013.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalThe European Physical Journal E
Volume36
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 28 2013
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUK-C1-013-04
Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the support by the Human Frontier Science Program (Grant RGP0052/2009-C) and hospitality of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences where this paper was finalised. MHK acknowledges hospitality of OCCAM supported by Award No. KUK-C1-013-04 by KAUST and the support by LabEx ENS-ICFP: ANR-10-LABX-0010/ANR-10IDEX-0001-02 PSL*.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

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