Research — Beller Research Group for Soft Matter and Biological Physics

In the smectic liquid crystal phase, molecules are ordered in layers of single particle thickness. The constraint of constant layer spacing results in a set of defect motifs, including focal conic domains. We model the material patterning that results from the self-assembly of these defects, and the effects on colloidal and nanoparticle inclusions. Spontaneous chirality in liquid crystal defects Liquid crystals often assemble into chiral structures because of molecluar chirality. However, a distinct class of phenomena arise when mirror symmetry is broken spontaneously; that is, the ground state is left-handed or right-handed with equal probability. We investigate the energetic frustrations that can cause this symmetry breaking, as well as consequences such as double-helical defect lines and multistability in the assembly of colloidal particles. Matter in living systems is inherently far from thermodynamic equilibrium; so too are many non-living systems. On scales from intracellular bio

In the smectic liquid crystal phase, molecules are ordered in layers of single particle thickness. The constraint of constant layer spacing results in a set of defect motifs, including focal conic domains. We model the material patterning that results from the self-assembly of these defects, and the effects on colloidal and nanoparticle inclusions. Spontaneous chirality in liquid crystal defects Liquid crystals often assemble into chiral structures because of molecluar chirality. However, a distinct class of phenomena arise when mirror symmetry is broken spontaneously; that is, the ground stat