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SUMMARY:Overviews of other MLC workshops - Warner\, M\, Osipov\, M\, Ball\
 , J (Cambridge/Strathclyde/Oxford)
DTSTART:20130111T133000Z
DTEND:20130111T140000Z
UID:TALK42393@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:Liquid crystal (LC) phases were first identified and even name
 d by their topological defects. The rich interplay between geometry\, topo
 logy and optics is ubiquitous through all liquid crystals. Workshop 4 (WS4
 ) addresses the characterisation of defects\, their essential appearance i
 n complex systems such as colloidal liquid crystals\, how they template co
 mplex structures\, and their special character in non-simple spaces (such 
 as those with Gaussian curvature). WS4 is concerned with solid liquid crys
 tals\, both elastomers where the director remains mobile\, and glasses whe
 re the director is pinned to the material frame. The unique mechanics of s
 olid liquid crystals leads to new phenomena\, some of which are described 
 by techniques of quasi-convexification first exploited in Martensites. The
 ir mechanics connects with the defects theme since topological defects in 
 LC solids\, on illumination or temperature change\, cause changes in Gauss
 ian curvature or topology. WS4 also pursues active nematics\, their connec
 tions with solid nematics\, and the role of defects in active systems. \n\
 nI shall review the themes of the workshop\, concentrating on those less f
 amiliar to liquid crystal specialists.\n\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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