Backflow-Driven Nematic Microfluidic Flow from Time-Varying Surface Anchoring
Dynamically rotating the surface anchoring easy axis on the walls of a nematic liquid crystal cell injects elastic distortions whose backflow coupling pumps the bulk fluid, producing no-net, oscillatory, steady, or pulsating flow regimes. Students learn how co-rotating versus counter-rotating boundary driving, inter-surface phase, cell thickness, and driving frequency set the direction and magnitude of the resulting microfluidic flow, all without any dielectric or field response.
2501.00407
A numerical study showing that material flow in a passive nematic liquid crystal cell can be generated and steered purely by rotating the surface anchoring easy axis in time on the two confining wall…