title: Biphasic, lyotropic, active nematics.
abstract: We perform dynamical simulations of a two-dimensional active nematic fluid in coexistence with an isotropic fluid. Drops of active nematic become elongated, and an effective anchoring develops at the nematic-isotropic interface. The activity also causes an undulatory instability of the interface. This results in defects of positive topological charge being ejected into the nematic, leaving the interface with a diffuse negative charge. Quenching the active lyotropic fluid results in a steady state in which phase-separating domains are elongated and then torn apart by active stirring.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física Teórica e Computacional, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto 2, P-1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal and Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, P-1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.affiliation: The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, 1 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3NP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sumesh P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Thampi
authors.affiliation: The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, 1 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3NP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yeomans
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D044367:Phase Transition