Diffusive transport in two-dimensional nematics

Ibrahim Fatkullin*, Valeriy Slastikov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

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Abstract

We discuss a dynamical theory for nematic liquid crystals describing the stage of evolution in which the hydrodynamic fluid motion has already equilibrated and the subsequent evolution proceeds via diffusive motion of the orientational degrees of freedom. This diffusion induces a slow motion of singularities of the order parameter field. Using asymptotic methods for gradient flows, we establish a relation between the Doi-Smoluchowski kinetic equation and vortex dynamics in two-dimensional systems. We also discuss moment closures for the kinetic equation and Landau-de Gennes-type free energy dissipation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)323-340
Number of pages18
JournalDiscrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems - Series S
Volume8
Issue number2
Early online date1 Jul 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2015

Keywords

  • Diffusive transport
  • Doi-Smoluchowski
  • Liquid crystals
  • Nematics
  • Vortex motion

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