Shear-Induced Dynamic Polarization and Mesoscopic Structure in Suspensions of Polar Nanorods

Abstract

We investigate the spatiotemporal behavior of sheared suspensions of rodlike particles with permanent dipole moments. Our calculations are based on a self-consistent hydrodynamic model including feedback effects between orientational motion and velocity profile. The competition between shear-induced tumbling motion and the boundary conditions imposed by plates leads to oscillatory alignment structures. These give rise to a spontaneous time-dependent polarization generating, in turn, magnetic fields. This novel shear-induced effect is robust against varying the boundary conditions. The field strengths are of a measurable magnitude for a broad parameter range.