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
Soft ferroelectrics
  • Complex switching behaviour
  • Ferro-, antiferro- and ferrielectric mesophases
  • Non-linear optics of liquid crystals
Colloidal suspensions
  • Electro- and magneto-responsive colloids, ferrofluids
  • Light-sensitive anisometric colloids
Active Matter
  • Entrainment of passive colloids in an active bath
  • Biological active matter
Magnetic fluids
  • Optical properties of magnetic fluids
  • Dynamics in magnetic gels
  • Ferromagnetic liquid crystals
Self-organisation and signal transduction in biological systems
  • Pattern formation in Chara algae cells
Smart multifunctional and nano-structured materials
Structure of novel liquid crystal phases
  • Phase transitions
  • Polarity and chirality
Physical properties of thin films and interfaces
  • Pattern formation in freely suspended films
  • Fluid dynamics in reduced dimension
  • Structure and dynamics of fluid fibres
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