Abstract
Skyrmions are particle-like topological objects that are increasingly drawing attention in condensed matter physics, where they are connected to inversion symmetry breaking and chirality. Here we report the generation of stable Skyrmion-like structures in a thin nematic liquid crystal film on chemically patterned patchy surfaces. Using the interplay of material elasticity and surface boundary conditions, we use a strong electric field to quench the nematic liquid crystal from a fully aligned phase to vortex-like nematic liquid crystal structures, centered on patterned patches, which carry two different sorts of topological defects. Numerical calculations reveal that these are Skyrmion-like structures, seeded from the surface boojum topological defects and swirling towards the second confining surface. These observations, supported by numerical methods, demonstrate the possibility to generate, manipulate and study Skyrmion-like objects in nematic liquid crystals on patterned surfaces.
Highlights
Skyrmions, originally introduced by Tony Skyrme to describe baryon fields,[1] are particle-like topological objects that are increasingly drawing attention in condensed matter physics
Patterned patchy surfaces can be used in sensing applications,[15,16] they show impressive switching times,[17,18] or can be used in controlled generation of topological charges, as we demonstrate in this paper
In this paper we demonstrate how the frustration imposed by patterned patchy surfaces leads to the controlled generation of Skyrmion-like structures in a geometrically confined non-chiral nematic liquid crystal
Summary
Originally introduced by Tony Skyrme to describe baryon fields,[1] are particle-like topological objects that are increasingly drawing attention in condensed matter physics. Light-controlled generation and observation of topological charges pinned on a microfiber in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) was reported.[14] Patterned patchy surfaces can be used in sensing applications,[15,16] they show impressive switching times,[17,18] or can be used in controlled generation of topological charges, as we demonstrate in this paper. We discuss the topological charge of Skyrmions on patchy surfaces and demonstrate charge conservation
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