• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Rectified Rotational Dynamics of Mobile Inclusions in Two-Dimensional Active Nematics

Sattvic Ray, Jie Zhang, and Zvonimir Dogic
Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 238301 – Published 9 June 2023
Physics logo See Focus story: Active Matter Turns Pinwheels
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of mobile inclusions embedded in 2D active nematics. The interplay between the inclusion shape, boundary-induced nematic order, and autonomous flows powers the inclusion motion. Disks and achiral gears exhibit unbiased rotational motion, but with distinct dynamics. In comparison, chiral gear-shaped inclusions exhibit long-term rectified rotation, which is correlated with dynamics and polarization of nearby +1/2 topological defects. The chirality of defect polarities and the active nematic texture around the inclusion correlate with the inclusion’s instantaneous rotation rate. Inclusions provide a promising tool for probing the rheological properties of active nematics and extracting ordered motion from their inherently chaotic motion.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 13 January 2023
  • Accepted 14 April 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.238301

© 2023 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Polymers & Soft MatterFluid DynamicsInterdisciplinary Physics

Focus

Key Image

Active Matter Turns Pinwheels

Published 9 June 2023

The chaotic motion in a fluid of microscopic, actively moving rods can be harnessed to drive the rotation of a small propeller-like object.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Sattvic Ray1, Jie Zhang2,3,*, and Zvonimir Dogic1,†

  • 1Department of Physics, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
  • 2Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), 230026 Hefei, China
  • 3Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), 230026 Hefei, China

  • *zhjie717@ustc.edu.cn
  • zdogic@physics.ucsb.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 130, Iss. 23 — 9 June 2023

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article part of CHORUS

Accepted manuscript will be available starting 8 June 2024.
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×