Shear flow of one-component polarizable fluid in a strong electric field.

Abstract

A shear flow of one-component polarizable fluid in a strong electric field has a structural transition at a critical shear stress. When the shear stress is increased from zero up to the critical shear stress, the flow (in the x direction) has a flowing-chain (FC) structure, consisting of tilted or broken chains along the field (z direction). At the critical shear stress, the FC structure gives way to a flowing-hexagonal-layered (FHL) structure, consisting of several two-dimensional layers which are parallel to the x-z plane. Within one layer, particles form strings in the flow direction. Strings are constantly sliding over particles in strings right beneath. The effective viscosity drops dramatically at the structural change. As the shear stress reduces, the FHL structure persists even under a stress-free state if the thermal fluctuation is very weak. This structure change in the charging and discharging process produces a large hysteresis. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.