Topological Rigidity and Non-Abelian defect junctions in chiral nematic systems with effective biaxial symmetry

Kavli Affiliate: Mark J. Bowick

| First 5 Authors: Jin-Sheng Wu, Roberto Abril Valenzuela, Mark J. Bowick, Ivan I. Smalyukh,

| Summary:

We study topologically stable defect structures in systems where the defect
line classification in three dimensions and associated algebra of interactions
(the fundamental group) are governed by the non-Abelian 8-element group, the
quaternions Q_8. The non-Abelian character of the defect algebra leads to a
topological rigidity of bound defect pairs, and trivalent junctions which are
the building blocks of multi-junction trivalent networks. We realize such
structures in laboratory chiral nematics and analyze their behavior
analytically, along with numerical modeling.

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