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Topological defects are a ubiquitous phenomenon in diverse physical systems.In nematic liquid crystals (LCs), they are dynamic, physicochemically distinct,sensitive to stimuli, and are thereby promising for a range of applications.However, our current understanding of the mechanics and dynamics of defects innematic LCs remain limited and are often overwhelmed by the intricate detailsof the specific systems. Here, we unify singular and nonsingular line defectsas superelastic rods and combine theory, simulation, and experiment toquantitatively measure their effective elastic moduli, including line tension,torsional rigidity, and twist--stretch coefficient. Interestingly, we foundthat line defects exhibit a negative twist--stretch coupling, meaning thattwisted line defects tend to unwind under stretching, which is reminiscent ofDNA molecules. A patterned nematic cell experiment further confirmed the abovefindings. Taken together, we have established an effective elasticity theoryfor nematic defects, paving the way towards understanding and engineering theirdeformation and transformation in driven and active nematic materials.

Line defects in nematic liquid crystals as charged superelastic rods with negative twist--stretch coupling