Phase-separation dynamics of an asymmetric mixture of an isotropic dopant in a nematogenic fluid is presented. We show that, on steady cooling, the nucleating nematic drops move down the dopant concentration gradient, with a velocity that is dependent on the cooling rate and concentration gradient. This propulsion of the drops leads to a mechanism of droplet coarsening, where radius of a drop scales with time as $R\left(t\right)\sim t$. Various mechanisms for droplet propulsion are discussed.

• Received 1 April 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.011708