Twist-induced crossover from two-dimensional to three-dimensional turbulence in active nematics

Journal article

While studies of active nematics in two dimensions have shed light on various aspects of the flow regimes and topology of active matter, three-dimensional properties of topological defects and chaotic flows remain unexplored. By confining a film of active nematics between two parallel plates, we use continuum simulations and analytical arguments to demonstrate that the crossover from quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) to three-dimensional (3D) chaotic flows is controlled by the morphology of the disclination lines. For small plate separations, the active nematic behaves as a quasi-2D material, with straight topological disclination lines spanning the height of the channel and exhibiting effectively 2D active turbulence. Upon increasing channel height, we find a crossover to 3D chaotic flows due to the contortion of disclinations above a critical activity. Above this critical activity highly contorted disclination lines and disclination loops are formed. We further show that these contortions are engendered by twist perturbations producing a sharp change in the curvature of disclinations.

Authors: Shendruk, T; Thijssen, K; Yeomans, J; Doostmohammadi, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review E
• Volume: 98
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 010601
• Publication date: 2018-07-13
• Acceptance date: 2018-06-22
• DOI: 10.1103/physreve.98.010601
• ISSN: 2470-0053 and 2470-0045
• Pmid: 30110824
• Language: English
• Keywords: Journal Article