Can You Tie It in a Knot? Knotting Particle Defect Lines (6 of 8) (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Can You Tie It in a Knot? Knotting Particle Defect Lines (6 of 8)

Caption

Schematic presentation of made-to-order assembly of Borromean rings on a 4x4 particle array. The feasible tangle combinations were tested by the numerical algorithm based on the Jones polynomials. The selected configuration was identified by direct comparison with polynomials in the enumerated base of knot invariants and finally assembled using laser tweezers. Designed by Uroš Tkalec. This image relates to an article that appeared in the July 1, 2011, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The study, by Uroš Tkalec of the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and colleagues was titled, "Reconfigurable Knots and Links in Chiral Nematic Colloids."

Credit

[Image © <i>Science/</i>AAAS]

Usage Restrictions

Please cite the owner of the image when publishing. This image may be freely used by reporters as part of news coverage, with proper attribution. Non-reporters must contact <i>Science</i> for permission.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.