Solution landscapes in nematic microfluidics

Journal article

We study the static equilibria of a simplified Leslie–Ericksen model for a unidirectional uniaxial nematic flow in a prototype microfluidic channel, as a function of the pressure gradient G and inverse anchoring strength, B. We numerically find multiple static equilibria for admissible pairs (G, B) and classify them according to their winding numbers and stability. The case G = 0 is analytically tractable and we numerically study how the solution landscape is transformed as G increases. We study the one-dimensional dynamical model, the sensitivity of the dynamic solutions to initial conditions and the rate of change of G and B. We provide a physically interesting example of how the time delay between the applications of G and B can determine the selection of the final steady state.

Authors: Crespo, M; Majumdar, A; Ramos, A; Griffiths, I

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
• Volume: 351-352
• Pages: 1-13
• Publication date: 2017-05-04
• Acceptance date: 2017-04-25
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physd.2017.04.004
• ISSN: 0167-2789
• Keywords: asymptotic analysis; Leslie–Ericksen model; nematic microfluidics; anchoring strength