Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows
Actively driven, bundled microtubule networks, powered by molecular motors have become a useful framework in which to study the dynamics of energy-driven defects, but achieving control of defect motions is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we present a method to confine active nematic flui...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.880941/full |
| _version_ | 1818010057927819264 |
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| author | Dimitrius A. Khaladj Linda S. Hirst |
| author_facet | Dimitrius A. Khaladj Linda S. Hirst |
| author_sort | Dimitrius A. Khaladj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Actively driven, bundled microtubule networks, powered by molecular motors have become a useful framework in which to study the dynamics of energy-driven defects, but achieving control of defect motions is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we present a method to confine active nematic fluid using wetting to curve a layer of oil over circular pillars. This geometry, in which submersed pillars impinge on an oil-water interface, creates a two-tier continuous active layer in which the material is confined above, and surrounds the pillars. Active flows above the pillars are influenced by the circular geometry and exhibit dynamics similar to those observed for active material confined by hard boundaries, e.g., inside circular wells. The thin oil layer beneath the active material is even thinner in the region above the pillars than outside their boundary, consequently producing an area of higher effective friction. Within the pillar region, active length scales and velocities are decreased, while defect densities increase relative to outside the pillar boundary. This new way to confine active flows opens further opportunities to control and organize topological defects and study their behavior in active systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:50:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90dde43e33d94995b7aeacd6d6b46cf7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:50:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-90dde43e33d94995b7aeacd6d6b46cf72022-12-22T02:09:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2022-04-011010.3389/fphy.2022.880941880941Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic FlowsDimitrius A. KhaladjLinda S. HirstActively driven, bundled microtubule networks, powered by molecular motors have become a useful framework in which to study the dynamics of energy-driven defects, but achieving control of defect motions is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we present a method to confine active nematic fluid using wetting to curve a layer of oil over circular pillars. This geometry, in which submersed pillars impinge on an oil-water interface, creates a two-tier continuous active layer in which the material is confined above, and surrounds the pillars. Active flows above the pillars are influenced by the circular geometry and exhibit dynamics similar to those observed for active material confined by hard boundaries, e.g., inside circular wells. The thin oil layer beneath the active material is even thinner in the region above the pillars than outside their boundary, consequently producing an area of higher effective friction. Within the pillar region, active length scales and velocities are decreased, while defect densities increase relative to outside the pillar boundary. This new way to confine active flows opens further opportunities to control and organize topological defects and study their behavior in active systems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.880941/fullactive nematicbiopolymerliquid crystalfluorescence microscopytopological defects |
| spellingShingle | Dimitrius A. Khaladj Linda S. Hirst Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows Frontiers in Physics active nematic biopolymer liquid crystal fluorescence microscopy topological defects |
| title | Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows |
| title_full | Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows |
| title_fullStr | Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows |
| title_short | Using Curved Fluid Boundaries to Confine Active Nematic Flows |
| title_sort | using curved fluid boundaries to confine active nematic flows |
| topic | active nematic biopolymer liquid crystal fluorescence microscopy topological defects |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.880941/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dimitriusakhaladj usingcurvedfluidboundariestoconfineactivenematicflows AT lindashirst usingcurvedfluidboundariestoconfineactivenematicflows |