Exotic liquid crystalline phases in monolayers of vertically vibrated granular particles

• Published in: Liquid crystals Vol. 50; no. 7-10; pp. 1261 - 1278
• Main Authors: Martínez-Ratón, Y., Velasco, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 09.08.2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: density functional theory; Liquid crystals; Low aspect ratio; Monolayers; Phases; Statistical mechanics; Topological defects; Two-dimensional liquid crystals; vibrated monolayers of granular particles

Vibrated monolayers of granular particles confined into horizontal cavities form a variety of fluid patterns with orientational order that resemble equilibrium liquid-crystal phases. In some cases, one can identify nematic and smectic patterns that can be understood in terms of classical statistical...