2014/11/12 by Ball, J. M., Bedford, S. J.
#49J45 #76A15 #Analysis of PDEs (math.AP) #FOS: Mathematics #FOS: Physical sciences #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1411.3264
The paper is concerned with various issues surrounding the mathematical description of defects in models of liquid crystals, drawing on experience from solid mechanics. The roles played by a suitable choice of function space and by the growth properties of the free-energy density are highlighted. Models in which the director can jump across surfaces are formulated, and their relevance for nematic elastomers, order reconstruction and smectic A thin films discussed.