Integral equation describing orientation phase transitions in Parsons model for system of axially symmetric particles (Q1398531)

The paper deals with a nonlinear integral equation for a function \(f({\mathbf n})\) which describes orientational distribution of elongated molecules (in the simplest case, cylinders) in the Onsager's model of nematic liquid crystals (a more sophisticated version of the system is called the Parsons model). The integral equation, which is derived from the consideration of interactions between the elongated axially symmetric particles, is \[ \nu + \ln f({\mathbf n}) + \lambda \int k({\mathbf n},{\mathbf n'})f({\mathbf n}) d{\mathbf n} = 0, \] where \({\mathbf n}\) is the unit vector that determines the direction, \(\lambda\) is proportional to the density of the molecules, the kernel \(k({\mathbf n},{\mathbf n'})\) depends on a particular variant of the model adopted, and the constant \(\nu\) is determined by the normalization condition, \(\int f({\mathbf n}) d{\mathbf n}=1\). An isotropic solution, with \(f({\mathbf n})\) = const, corresponds to an isotropic liquid, while a solution with an anistropic distribution accounts for a liquid-crystal phase. It is known that the transition between the two states is a phase transition of the first order, i.e., it takes place with a jump. Accordingly, a bifurcation amenable for the transition from the isotropic phase to a nematic one is a backward bifurcation. The present paper reports a proof of theorems stating that, in the case of a specific kernel \(k({\mathbf n},{\mathbf n'})\) corresponding to the Parsons model, the one-dimensional branching (bifurcation) point in solutions of the integral equation gives rise to a single anisotropic solution, which may be expanded in integer powers of a parameter that determines proximity to the branching point. A two-dimensional branching point gives rise to three anisotropic solutions, that also may be expanded in integer powers of the proximity parameter.