Analysis and simulations of the Chen-Lubensky energy for smectic liquid crystals: onset of undulations (Q482271)

The authors study the formation of undulations under an applied magnetic field in smectic liquid crystals using a modified Chen-Lubensky energy that includes the second-order gradient term. In their previous work [Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 203, No. 1, 1--43 (2012; Zbl 1318.76002)], the authors studied the phenomenon analytically using Landau-de Gennes free energy. First, the authors present the modified Chen-Lubensky model and introduce an efficient numerical method for the gradient flow of the Chen-Lubenksy functional and study the Helfrich-Hurault effect in smectic liquid crystals. The numerical method is based on a new formulation of the resulting \(4\)th-order partial differential equations. With this formulation, the system reduces to second-order equations with a constraint, which resembles the Navier-Stokes equations. Layer undulation patterns are illustrated by numerically solving the gradient flow of smectic A liquid crystals. Next, the stability study of the undeformed state of smectic A liquid crystals is presented. Furthermore, the authors obtain estimates of the critical field and frequencies of layer undulation which is consistent with the numerical study presented previously. The first eigenvalue and the corresponding eigenfunctions of the linearized operator are studied. It is shown that the kernel of the operator at the first eigenvalue is one-dimensional, and this fact allow the authors to analyze the undulation phenomena as a bifurcation from the uniform solution. It is also shown here that the undeformed state loses its stability and that bifurcation occurs if the magnetic field is greater than a certain threshold. Finally, a formal asymptotic analysis is used to study the limiting profile of the transition wall as the magnetic field strength tends to infinity.