5,658 research outputs found
Pacman percolation: a model for enzyme gel degradation
We study a model for the gel degradation by an enzyme, where the gel is
schematized as a cubic lattice, and the enzyme as a random walker, that cuts
the bonds over which it passes. The model undergoes a (reverse) percolation
transition, which for low density of enzymes falls in a universality class
different from random percolation. In particular we have measured a gel
fraction critical exponent beta=1.0+-0.1, in excellent agreement with
experiments made on the real system.Comment: 4 pages, 7 eps figure
Theory of photoferroelectric response in SmC* liquids
We are concerned with the modification of liquid crystalline and polar order
in SmC* liquids by illumination. In particular we show that non-uniformity due
to absorption and also dynamics, can be complex. The variation of polarization
with temperature, while illuminated, is modified from that assuming uniformity.
Apparent changes of polarization with illumination will be shown to be
underestimated due to non-uniformity. The dynamics is shown to depend on
propagating fronts of photo-conversion penetrating the sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
Splitting of Surface Plasmon Frequencies of Metal Particles in a Nematic Liquid Crystal
We calculate the effective dielectric function for a suspension of small
metallic particles immersed in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) host. For a
random suspension of such particles in the dilute limit, we calculate the
effective dielectric tensor exactly and show that the surface plasmon
(SP)resonance of such particles splits into two resonances, polarized parallel
and perpendicular to the NLC director. At higher concentrations, we calculate
this splitting using a generalized Maxwell-Garnett approximation, which can
also be applied to a small metal particle coated with NLC. To confirm the
accuracy of the MGA for NLC-coated spheres, we also use the Discrete Dipole
Approximation. The calculated splitting is comparable to that observed in
recent experiments on NLC-coated small metal particlesComment: 11 pages, 2 figures. To be published in Appl. Phys. Let
Long-range Casimir interactions between impurities in nematic liquid crystals and the collapse of polymer chains in such solvents
The elastic interactions between objects embedded in a nematic liquid crystal
are usually caused by the average distorsion-rather than by the fluctuations-of
the nematic orientational field. We argue that for sufficiently small
particles, the nematic-mediated interaction originates purely from the
fluctuations of the nematic director. This Casimir interaction decays as
d^(-6), d being the distance between the particles, and it dominates van der
Waals interactions close to the isotropic-to-nematic transition. Considering
the nematic as a polymer solvent, we show that the onset of this Casimir
interaction at the isotropic-to-nematic transition can discontinuously induce
the collapse of a flexible polymer chain from the swollen state to the globular
state, without crossing the Theta-point.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur
Probing viscoelastic properties of a thin polymer film sheared between a beads layer and quartz crystal resonator
We report measurements of viscoelastic properties of thin polymer films of
10-100 nm at the MHz range. These thin films are confined between a quartz
crystal resonator and a millimetric bead layer, producing an increase of both
resonance frequency and dissipation of the quartz resonator. The shear modulus
and dynamic viscosity of thin films extracted from these measurements are
consistent with the bulk values of the polymer. This modified quartz resonator
provides an easily realizable and effective tool for probing the rheological
properties of thin films at ambient environment.Comment: submitted to ap
Topological Constraints at the Theta Point: Closed Loops at Two Loops
We map the problem of self-avoiding random walks in a Theta solvent with a
chemical potential for writhe to the three-dimensional symmetric
U(N)-Chern-Simons theory as N goes to 0. We find a new scaling regime of
topologically constrained polymers, with critical exponents that depend on the
chemical potential for writhe, which gives way to a fluctuation-induced
first-order transition.Comment: 5 pages, RevTeX, typo
Chirality transfer and stereo-selectivity of imprinted cholesteric networks
Imprinting of cholesteric textures in a polymer network is a method of
preserving a macroscopically chiral phase in a system with no molecular
chirality. By modifying the elastics properties of the network, the resulting
stored helical twist can be manipulated within a wide range since the
imprinting efficiency depends on the balance between the elastics constants and
twisting power at network formation. One spectacular property of phase
chirality imprinting is the created ability of the network to adsorb
preferentially one stereo-component from a racemic mixture. In this paper we
explore this property of chirality transfer from a macroscopic to the molecular
scale. In particular, we focus on the competition between the phase chirality
and the local nematic order. We demonstrate that it is possible to control the
subsequent release of chiral solvent component from the imprinting network and
the reversibility of the stereo-selective swelling by racemic solvents
Imprinted Networks as Chiral Pumps
We investigate the interaction between a chirally imprinted network and a
solvent of chiral molecules. We find, a liquid crystalline polymer network is
preferentially swollen by one component of a racemic solvent. This ability to
separate is linked to the chiral order parameter of the network, and can be
reversibly controlled via temperature or a mechanical deformation. It is
maximal near the point at which the network loses its imprinted structure. One
possible practical application of this effect would be a mechanical device for
sorting mixed chiral molecules.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Untwisting of a cholesteric elastomer by a mechanical field
A mechanical strain field applied to a monodomain cholesteric elastomer will
unwind the helical director distribution. There is an analogy with the
classical problem of an electric field applied to a cholesteric liquid crystal,
but with important differences. Frank elasticity is of minor importance unless
the gel is very weak. The interplay is between director anchoring to the rubber
elastic matrix and the external mechanical field. Stretching perpendicular to
the helix axis induces the uniform unwound state via the elimination of sharp,
pinned twist walls above a critical strain. Unwinding through conical director
states occurs when the elastomer is stretched along the helical axis.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX 3 style, 3 EPS figure
Stereo-selective swelling of imprinted cholesteric networks
Molecular chirality, and the chiral symmetry breaking of resulting
macroscopic phases, can be topologically imprinted and manipulated by
crosslinking and swelling of polymer networks. We present a new experimental
approach to stereo-specific separation of chiral isomers by using a cholesteric
elastomer in which a helical director distribution has been topological
imprinted by crosslinking. This makes the material unusual in that is has a
strong phase chirality, but no molecular chirality at all; we study the nature
and parameters controlling the twist-untwist transition. Adding a racemic
mixture to the imprinted network results in selective swelling by only the
component of ``correct'' handedness. We investigate the capacity of demixing in
a racemic environment, which depends on network parameters and the underlying
nematic order
- …