Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Active Colloidal Entanglement in Active Nematic Disclinations

Identifier

6780

Date

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Physics

Concentration

Materials Science

Committee Member

Chenhui Peng

Committee Member

Sabri Firouzeh

Committee Member

Muhammad S Jahan

Abstract

Topological entanglement is arguably considered as the second quantum revolution in condensed matter physics. Likewise, topological structures in the disclination lines and loops have been proven to be the key to understanding the non-equilibrium nature of active soft matter. However, it is challenging to create active entanglement of disclinations in an active matter system due to its chaotic nature. Here we show that by interfacing colloidal particles with three dimensional(3D) nematic disclination network, entanglements are enabled around the colloids. These entanglements are driven out-of-equilibrium by light triggering the disclinations to be active. Chirality of different twist senses in the active entanglements can be converted in the disclinations of pure-twist and wedge-twist profiles. The merging and splitting events in the active entanglements are also enabled by commanding the interplay between the entanglements and topology in the disclinations. This work also opens the opportunities to program the colloidal self-assembly structures for smart materials and micromachines.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS