AC electrophoresis of colloidal dimers in nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

Colloidal dynamics in nematic liquid crystals is growing attention in recent years. Here we study the behavior of colloidal dimers which are induced by electric fields. Depending on the initial configuration of two particles, the director field around the dimers shows distinctive appearance under a cross-polarized condition. In particular, we find a new type of AC electrophoretic behavior which enables the motion perpendicular to the rubbing direction.