Abstract
Composed of square particles, the tetratic phase is characterized by a fourfold symmetry with quasi-long-range orientational order but no translational order. We construct the elastic free energy for tetratics and find a closed form solution for disclinations in planar geometry. Applying the same covariant formalism to a sphere, we show analytically that within the one elastic constant approximation eight disclinations favor positions defining the vertices of a cube. The interplay between defect–defect interactions and bending energy results in a flattening of the sphere towards superspheroids with the symmetry of a cube.
- Received 10 December 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.117801
© 2015 American Physical Society