Long-ranged order and flow alignment in sheared $p-$atic liquid crystals

Abstract

We formulate a hydrodynamic theory of $p-$atic liquid crystals, namely two-dimensional anisotropic fluids endowed with generic $p-$fold rotational symmetry. Our approach, based on an order parameter tensor that directly embodies the discrete rotational symmetry of $p-$atic phases, allows us to unveil several unknown aspects of flowing $p-$atics, that previous theories, characterized by ${\rm O(2)}$ rotational symmetry, could not account for. This includes the onset of long-ranged orientational order in the presence of a simple shear flow of arbitrary shear rate, as opposed to the standard quasi-long-ranged order of two-dimensional liquid crystals, and the possibility of flow alignment at large shear rates.