Continuous generation of topological defects in a passively driven nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

Synthetic active matter is emerging as the prime route for the realisation of biological mechanisms such as locomotion, active mixing, and self-organisation in soft materials. In particular, passive nematic complex fluids are known to form out-of-equilibrium states with topological defects, but their locomotion, activation and experimental realization has been developed and understood to only a limited extent. Here, we report that the concentration-driven flow of small molecules triggers turbulent flow in the thin film of a nematic liquid crystal that continuously generates pairs of topological defects with an integer topological charge. The diffusion results in the formation of counter-rotating vortex rolls in the liquid crystal, which above a velocity threshold transform into a turbulent flow with continuous generation and annihilation of the defect pairs. The pairs of defects are created by the self-amplifying splay instability between the vortices, until a pair of oppositely charged defects is formed.