2006/02/17 by T. J. Spencer, Spencer, T. J., C. M. Care +1
Computer Science · Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Lattice Boltzmann Simulation Studies #Liquid Crystal Research Advancements #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0602421
14 pages and 5 figures
arxiv created 2006/02/17 · openalex publication_date 2006/02/17 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A lattice Boltzmann scheme is presented which recovers the dynamics of nematic and chiral liquid crystals; the method essentially gives solutions to the Qian-Sheng equations for the evolution of the velocity and tensor order-parameter fields. The resulting algorithm is able to include five independent Leslie viscosities, a Landau-deGennes free energy which introduces three or more elastic constants, a temperature dependent order parameter, surface anchoring and viscosity coefficients, flexo-electric and order electricity and chirality. When combined with a solver for the Maxwell equations associated with the electric field, the algorithm is able to provide a full 'device solver' for a liquid crystal display. Coupled lattice Boltzmann schemes are used to capture the evolution of the fast momentum and slow director motions in a computationally efficient way. The method is shown to give results in close agreement with analytical results for a number of validating examples. The use of the method is illustrated through the simulation of the motion of defects in a zenithal bistable liquid crystal device.