Nematronics: reciprocal coupling between ionic currents and nematic dynamics

Dao, Chau (author), Everts, Jeffrey Christopher (author), Ravnik, Miha (author), Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav (author)

Adopting a spintronics-inspired approach, we study the reciprocal coupling between ionic charge currents and nematic texture dynamics in a uniaxial nematic electrolyte. Assuming quenched fluid dynamics, we develop equations of motion analogously to spin torque and spin pumping. Based on the principle of least dissipation of energy, we derive the adiabatic “nematic torque” exerted by ionic currents on the nematic director field as well as the reciprocal motive force on ions due to the orientational dynamics of the director. We discuss several simple examples that illustrate the potential functionality of this coupling. Furthermore, using our phenomenological framework, we propose a practical means to extract the coupling strength through impedance measurements on a nematic cell. Exploring further applications based on this physics could foster the development of nematronics—nematic iontronics.

• Language: English
• Keywords: condensed matter physics, nematic liquid crystals, ionic fluids
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 21.04.2023
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 168102-1-168102-7
• Numbering: Vol. 130, iss. 16
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-155550
• UDC: 538.9
• ISSN on article: 0031-9007
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.168102
• COBISS.SI-ID: 150353923
• Publication date in RUL: 05.04.2024

DAO, Chau, EVERTS, Jeffrey Christopher, RAVNIK, Miha and TSERKOVNYAK, Yaroslav, 2023, Nematronics: reciprocal coupling between ionic currents and nematic dynamics. Physical review letters [online]. 2023. Vol. 130, no. 16, p. 168102-1-168102–7. [Accessed 26 April 2025]. DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.168102. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=155550

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Physical review letters
• Shortened title: Phys. rev. lett.
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1282575

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fizika kondenzirane snovi, nematski tekoči kristali, ionske tekočine