Iterated Moire Maps and Braiding of Chiral Polymer Crystals

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex structures and phases of chiral polymers, focusing on moire maps and braiding phenomena resulting from strong chirality and screw dislocations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of moire maps and braiding in chiral polymer crystals, revealing new phases and complex trajectories.

Findings

Identification of a new 'moire state' with twisted bond order

Proliferation of screw dislocations leads to distinct phases

Complex polymer trajectories described by iterated moire maps

Abstract

In the hexagonal columnar phase of chiral polymers a bias towards cholesteric twist competes with braiding along an average direction. When the chirality is strong, screw dislocations proliferate, leading to either a tilt grain boundary phase or a new "moire state" with twisted bond order. Polymer trajectories in the plane perpendicular to their average direction are described by iterated moire maps of remarkable complexity.