On the influence of a network on optically isotropic fluid phases with tetrahedral/octupolar order.
We investigate the influence of transient or permanent elasticity on liquid phases with octupolar (tetrahedral) order, a question that has never been addressed before. The focus will be on optically isotropic liquid phases with tetrahedral order including the Tdphase and the chiral T phase introduced by Fel. It turns out that the presence of both, a network as well as tetrahedral order can lead to the formation of chiral domains of both hands in an optically isotropic fluid due to a completely novel mechanism, thus providing a possible macroscopic explanation for recent experimental observations. We study in detail how elasticity influences the macroscopic dynamics of both, the Tdand the T phase. The simultaneous presence of a transient network as well as of octupolar order is shown to lead to completely new cross-coupling phenomena for optically isotropic systems including transient dissipative elastic strains due to temperature gradients.
Theoretische Physik III, Universität Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.|Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, POBox 3148, 55021, Mainz, Germany.
Helmut R
HR
Brand
Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, POBox 3148, 55021, Mainz, Germany. pleiner@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Harald
H
Pleiner
Soft Matter: Liquid crystals