Emergent lengthscales in confined 3D Active Incipient Nematics

ORAL

Abstract

An incipient nematic is a system whose density is smaller than the critical density for isotropic-nematic transition. The stationary isotropic state, which is the stable equilibrium of a passive incipient nematic, can be destabilized by the effects of extensile activity combined with flow alignment. We study the properties of flows that arise from this instability in confined 3D systems. Calculations from hydrodynamic theory, and experimental measurements on a microtubule-based system show long-range velocity correlations, in the absence of such correlations in nematic order. Further, we show that there exists a confinement-independent lengthscale intrinsic to flows in an active incipient nematic that determines its bulk behavior.

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Presenters

  • Minu Varghese

    Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Physics Department, Brandeis University

Authors

  • Minu Varghese

    Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Physics Department, Brandeis University

  • Yi Fan

    Department of Engineering, Brown University

  • Arvind Baskaran

    Physics, Brandeis University, Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Physics Department, Brandeis University

  • Kun-Ta Wu

    Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Physics Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Zvonimir Dogic

    Physics Department, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Seth Fraden

    Physics, Brandeis University, Brandeis University, Physics Department, Brandeis University, Department of Physics, Brandeis University

  • Michael F Hagan

    Chemistry, Brandeis University, Physics, Brandeis University, Brandeis University, Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Physics Department, Brandeis University

  • Kenny Breuer

    Department of Engineering, Brown University

  • Aparna Baskaran

    Brandeis University, Physics, Brandeis University, Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Physics Department, Brandeis University