Lattice Boltzmann simulations of liquid crystalline fluids: active gels and blue phases

摘要

Lattice Boltzmann simulations have become a method of choice to solve thehydrodynamic equations of motion of a number of complex fluids. Here we reviewsome recent applications of lattice Boltzmann to study the hydrodynamics ofliquid crystalline materials. In particular, we focus on the study of (a) theexotic blue phases of cholesteric liquid crystals, and (b) active gels - amodel system for actin plus myosin solutions or bacterial suspensions. In bothcases lattice Boltzmann studies have proved useful to provide new insights intothese complex materials.