Evolution from A 2 defect to 1/2 defects in a cylindrical geometry

Miroshnychenko, D., Hill, N.A. , Mottram, N.J. and Lydon, J.E. (2005) Evolution from A 2 defect to 1/2 defects in a cylindrical geometry. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 437(1), pp. 1495-1511. (doi: 10.1080/15421400590955334)

Abstract

In this work the dynamics of liquid crystal ordering in a cylindrical geometry are considered. We study a system with liquid crystalline properties that exhibits translational symmetry along the cylinder axis and, therefore, the problem is effectively two-dimensional. The orientation of liquid crystals is described by a tensorial order parameter and the dynamics are governed by a balance between the dissipation and the rate of change of free energy, which includes the elastic, thermotropic and surface energy terms. The evolution of the + 2 defect differentiating first into two + 1 disclinations and subsequently into four + 1/2 defects is analysed. Different boundary conditions, namely strong and weak or no anchoring, have been considered and the critical value for the anchoring strength, at which + 1/2 defects are very close to escaping through the boundary but still remain there at equilibrium, has been identified.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mottram, Professor Nigel and Hill, Professor Nicholas
• Authors: Miroshnychenko, D., Hill, N.A., Mottram, N.J., and Lydon, J.E.
• Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
• Journal Name: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
• ISSN: 1542-1406
• ISSN (Online): 1563-5287