Abstract
We study a two-dimensional model describing spatial variations of orientational ordering in nematic liquid crystals. In particular, we show that the spatially extended Onsager-Maier-Saupe free energy may be decomposed into Landau-de Gennes-type and relative entropy-type contributions. We then prove that in the high concentration limit the states of the system display characteristic vortex-like patterns and derive an asymptotic expansion for the free energy of the system.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 917-938 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Communications in Mathematical Sciences |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2009 |
Keywords
- Liquid crystals
- Nematics
- Spatial patterns
- Vortices
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics