Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Phase characterization of microtubule-motor active nematic liquid crystals Public Deposited
https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/6t053g573
- Abstract
- Active nematic liquid crystals have remarkable properties that are only now starting to be understood. These non-equilibrium systems self-organize in solutions. We study a type of solu- tion consisting of microtubule filaments and motor proteins. Microtubules give structure to the cell, while motor proteins facilitate transport of molecules along microtubules. We compose sim- ulations and extract data to quantify stresses, pressure, filament distribution, and the order of two-dimensional active nematic liquid crystals. We identify and quantify phases and phase transi- tions, and seek to describe the physical properties of steady-state configurations. By characterizing these systems, we contribute to the developing field of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, and provide a framework for further research in driven nematic liquid crystals.
- Creator
- Date Awarded
- 2018-01-01
- Academic Affiliation
- Advisor
- Granting Institution
- Last Modified
- 2019-12-02
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phaseCharacterizationOfMicrotubuleMotorActiveNematicLiquid.pdf | 2019-11-30 | Public | Download |