Research
Nonlinearity underlies the vast diversity of structures and complex types of behaviour encountered at all levels in nature from geological rock formation to morphogenesis of living cells. Although it is theoretically complicated to describe the behaviour of nonlinear systems, its research is of fundamental interest.
In our group we investigate nonlinear behaviour (dynamics, pattern formation, and self-organisation) in soft condensed matter systems such as liquid crystals, active and passive colloids, magnetic fluids.The focus of our current research lies in
In our group we investigate nonlinear behaviour (dynamics, pattern formation, and self-organisation) in soft condensed matter systems such as liquid crystals, active and passive colloids, magnetic fluids.The focus of our current research lies in
Soft ferroelectrics
Structure of novel liquid crystal phases
- Complex switching behaviour
- Ferro-, antiferro- and ferrielectric mesophases
- Non-linear optics of liquid crystals
- Electro- and magneto-responsive colloids, ferrofluids
- Light-sensitive anisometric colloids
- Entrainment of passive colloids in an active bath
- Biological active matter
- Optical properties of magnetic fluids
- Dynamics in magnetic gels
- Ferromagnetic liquid crystals
- Pattern formation in Chara algae cells
Structure of novel liquid crystal phases
- Phase transitions
- Polarity and chirality
- Pattern formation in freely suspended films
- Fluid dynamics in reduced dimension
- Structure and dynamics of fluid fibres