Shear-enhanced elasticity in the cubic blue phase I

Shuji Fujii; Oliver Henrich

doi:10.1103/physreve.103.052704

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arXiv · 1810.07596

Shear-enhanced elasticity in the cubic blue phase I

Shuji Fujii·Oliver Henrich

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Abstract

We present results of the linear and non-linear rheology of cubic blue phase I (BPI). The elasticity of BPI is dominated by double-twist cylinders assembled in a body-centered cubic lattice, which can be specified by disclination lines. We find that the elasticity of BPI is enhanced by an order of magnitude by applying pre-shear. The shear-enhanced elasticity is attributed to a rearrangement of the disclination lines that are arrested in a metastable state. Our results are relevant for the understanding of the dynamics of disclinations in cubic blue phases.

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Shuji Fujii, Oliver Henrich. 2018-10-17. Shear-enhanced elasticity in the cubic blue phase I. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.103.052704

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