Journal article

### Rheology of cholesteric blue phases.

Abstract:

Cholesteric blue phases are a spectacular example of disclination line networks. Here we numerically investigate their response to an imposed Poiseuille flow. We show that shear forces bend and twist and can unzip the disclination lines. Under gentle forcing the network opposes the flow and the apparent viscosity is large. With increased forcing we find strong shear thinning corresponding to the disruption of the network. As the viscosity starts to drop, the imposed flow sets the network into...

Publication status:
Published

### Authors

Marenduzzo, D More by this author
Orlandini, E More by this author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Department:
Oxford, MPLS, Physics, Theoretical Physics
Journal:
Physical review letters
Volume:
95
Issue:
9
Pages:
097801
Publication date:
2005-08-05
DOI:
EISSN:
1079-7114
ISSN:
0031-9007
URN:
uuid:d950a334-4db2-4e20-a560-90d44d841cbb
Source identifiers:
18450
Local pid:
pubs:18450
Language:
English