Eur. Phys. J. E (2004) 14: 333-337
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2004-10028-x

Commentary on “Mechanical properties of monodomain side chain nematic elastomers” by P. Martinoty et al.

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, Philadelphia, USA

^* e-mail: tom@physics.upenn.edu

Abstract

We discuss the rheology experiments on nematic elastomers by Martinoty et al. in the light of theoretical models for the long-wavelength low-frequency dynamics of these materials. We review these theories and discuss how they can be modified to provide a phenomenological description of the non-hydrodynamic frequency regime probed in the experiments. Moreover, we review the concepts of soft and semi-soft elasticity and comment on their implications for the experiments.