Seminar über aktuelle Fragen zur Dynamik komplexer Fluide: Active liquid crystal droplets in magnetic fields - from oscillatory to straight motion

Due to their internal nematic order, active liquid crystal droplets show multifaceted swimming dynamics. An external magnetic field exerts a torque on the nematic director field and therefore the droplets' swimming behaviour changes. We explored different modes of droplet swimming at varying magnetic field strengths that are easily accessible with common permanent magnets. We found characteristic oscillatory behaviour at intermediate field strengths and straight swimming at higher field strengths.