Electrophoresis and sedimentation of colloidal particles with normal anchoring in cholesteric liquid crystal

POSTER

Abstract

We study sedimentation and electrophoresis of dielectric colloidal spheres with homeotropic anchoring through a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) with the pitch larger than the particle diameter. The driving force (gravity or the electric field) is applied parallel to the cholesteric axis. The particle follows a helicoidal (rather than linear) trajectory showing the components of velocity that are parallel and perpendicular to the helcioidal axis of the cholesteric. The handedness of the helicoidal trajectory corresponds with the handedness of the cholesteric material. The effect nonzero velocity perpendicular to the cholesteric axis is explained as the result of broken symmetry of the director field around the particle.

Authors

  • Taras Turiv

    Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA

  • Frazier Baker

    Youngstown State University, Kent State University, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Stony Brook Univ, Ohio Univ, Institute for Advanced Simulation, Institut fur Kernphysik, and Julich Center, Bowling Green State University, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Ohio State Univ - Columbus, Kent State University, Psychology Dept, Cleveland State University, Physics Dept, Cleveland State University, Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA, Univ of Konstanz, Univ College London, NIST, Hiroshima Univ, KIT, Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of California, San Diego, Georgia Institute of Technology, KSU, SKKU, Lock Haven Univ, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Yale University, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, CAS, Nanjing University, Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA, Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent OH 44242, Department of Electro-Optic Engineering Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel, Ohio University Zanesville