Liquid crystals with variable degree of orientation

This paper seeks to develop mathematically a sound theory of defects in liquid crystals which might be at rest or moving. To describe the orientation of molecules, molecular theories introduce a second order tensor Q defined by \(Q=S(n\otimes n-(1/3)I)\), \(-(1/2)\leq S\leq 1,\) where n is a unit vector called the director and S is the degree of orientation. Here the author proceeds to modify the so called Ericksen-Leslie (EL) theory by treating S as an additional scalar variable and proposing a scalar equation for S similar to the vector equation for n in the EL theory, together with a modified energy balance for the temperature \(\vartheta\). Utilizing invariance arguments and the Clausius-Duhem inequality, in a similar manner as \textit{F. M. Leslie} [(*) Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 28, 265-283 (1968; Zbl 0159.571)], various restrictions upon the constitutive equations for nematics are obtained. Three new moduli arise in the theory in addition to the fact that the usual parameters now depend upon S as well as \(\vartheta\). An application of the Onsager relations indicates that the familiar Parodi relation holds and that two of the new moduli are identical. The assumption that a suitably modified dissipation function \(\Delta\), similar to that used by Leslie (*), is nonnegative yields a variety of inequalities between various material parameters. A consideration of the `free energy' W being dependent upon S and \(\nabla S\) as well as n, \(\nabla n\) and \(\vartheta\) results in an expression for W containing the usual terms in the Frank energy for nematics together with four additional terms which represent a kind of elasticity not present in the EL theory. For the analysis of defects in liquid crystals, it is important to obtain estimates of the behaviour of constitutive equations near \(S=0\). To achieve this the author employs the ideas concerning the role of the tensor Q by examining so-called consistency conditions regarding the dissipation function \(\Delta\) and the component parts of W. Finally the differences applicable for cholesterics are recorded. This is a well written paper and essential reading for serious researchers in liquid crystal theory.

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