TEACHING COMPLEX FIELDS OF SOFT MATER, PROPOSAL OF A NEW LIQUID CRYSTAL ANALOGY

The key reason behind the richness of different structures and patterns displayed in nature is the universal mechanism of symmetry breaking. It shapes configurations at all length scales encountered in universe. Structures reached via symmetry breaking transitions are commonly described in terms of order parameter fields. One of the simplest systems where symmetry breaking concepts have already been explored in detail, are various liquid crystal (LC) phases. The reason behind this is rich variety of structures exhibited by LCs and their convenient experimental accessibility. Consequently, a wide spectrum of different theoretical tools have been developed in LCs. In this contribution the orientational ordering of housing block in San Francisco, which we choose as a typical large-city representative, was studied. Following nematic LC analogy we determine the local degree of ordering. The structural pattern of the city displays a domain-type pattern. The average degree of ordering within a domain strongly correlates with crime rate within it. Therefore, the results confirm an intuitive expectation that structures define properties. This model can be used as a helpful tool in education as it provides a way of understanding complex topics with the help of well-known every day phenomena.