Existence and multiplicity of radial solutions describing the equilibrium of nematic liquid crystals in annular domains (Q1977788)

Using Ericksen-Leslie theory, the author studies existence and multiplicity of radial solutions describing the static equilibrium of nematic liquid crystals in annular domains. These equilibria are important for the bifurcation analysis of Couette flows. For planar shear flows of nematic liquid crystals, there is one flow configuration between two fixed parallel plates. But in an annular domain Euler-Lagrange equations may have multiple radial solutions. Along the solution branch describing the equilibrium, the author finds bifurcations when the ratio of the radius of the inner cylinder to that of the outer cylinder is less than a critical value given by the material constants \(K_i\) appearing in the energy density expression. The author also shows existence of multiple radial solutions when \(K_1\), \(K_3\) and the above ratio satisfy certain conditions. Finally, the author obtains bifurcation and stability results for those radial solution branches.