A one-dimensional variational problem for cholesteric liquid crystals with disparate elastic constants

DOI10.1016/J.JDE.2021.03.045zbMATH Open1461.49061arXiv2008.04492OpenAlexW3145676038MaRDI QIDQ2020140FDOQ2020140

Authors: Dmitry Golovaty, Michael Novack, Peter Sternberg 

Publication date: 23 April 2021

Published in: Journal of Differential Equations (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We consider a one-dimensional variational problem arising in connection with a model for cholesteric liquid crystals. The principal feature of our study is the assumption that the twist deformation of the nematic director incurs much higher energy penalty than other modes of deformation. The appropriate ratio of the elastic constants then gives a small parameter $varepsilon$ entering an Allen-Cahn-type energy functional augmented by a twist term. We consider the behavior of the energy as $varepsilon$ tends to zero. We demonstrate existence of the local energy minimizers classified by their overall twist, find the $Gamma$-limit of the relaxed energies and show that it consists of the twist and jump terms. Further, we extend our results to include the situation when the cholesteric pitch vanishes along with $varepsilon$.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.04492

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zbMATH Keywords

gamma-convergencelocal minimizercholesteric liquid crystal

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

PDEs in connection with fluid mechanics (35Q35) Liquid crystals (76A15) Second-order semilinear hyperbolic equations (35L71) Methods involving semicontinuity and convergence; relaxation (49J45) Variational principles of physics (49S05) Statistical mechanics of random media, disordered materials (including liquid crystals and spin glasses) (82D30) Variational methods applied to problems in fluid mechanics (76M30)

Cites Work

• The gradient theory of phase transitions and the minimal interface criterion
• Local minimisers and singular perturbations
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• Regularity of free boundaries in obstacle-type problems
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• Landau-De Gennes theory of nematic liquid crystals: the Oseen-Frank limit and beyond
• Phase transitions in nematics: textures with tactoids and disclinations
• A Ginzburg-Landau-type problem for highly anisotropic nematic liquid crystals
• \(\Gamma\)-convergence of a mean-field model of a chiral doped nematic liquid crystal to the Oseen-Frank description of cholesterics

Cited In (2)

• Chiral symmetry breaking and the soliton-stripe pattern in Langmuir monolayers and smectic films
• \(\Gamma\)-convergence of a mean-field model of a chiral doped nematic liquid crystal to the Oseen-Frank description of cholesterics

Uses Software

• COMSOL

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