Molecular Theory of Hydrodynamic Equations for Nematic Liquid Crystals

Hydrodynamic Correlation Functions in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Résumé. — L'objet du présent article consiste en un réexamen du résultat suivant récemment obtenu par Forster : dans le cas des cristaux liquides nématiques, il n'est pas possible de déterminer de manière complète, à partir de la matrice hydrodynamique, les amplitudes liées à tous les modes diffusifs. Nous montrons qu'à partir des lois de symétrie d'inversion spatiale et d'inversion de temps, c...

A molecular theory of surface tension in nematic liquid crystals

The surface tension at the free surface of a nematic liquid crystal is computed using the Fowler-Kirkwood-Buff approximation to the interface, and a mean field approximation to the molecular pair distribution function. It is found for a Van der Waals interaction between molecules that : a) the molecules always prefer an orientation in the plane of the surface; b) there is a gap at the nematic-i...

Continuum Theory of Biaxial Nematic Liquid Crystals

Static and Hydrodynamic Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals *

The static properties of nematic liquid crystals are summarized. The mean field potential emerging from the static distribution function has been used to the hydrodynamic theory. Rotational viscosity coefficients have been investigated. The Parodi relation has been shown to be completely satisfied. Static and hydrodynamic properties have been predicted on the basis of one intermolecular potential.

Nematic Liquid Crystals: Defects

There are two types of defects in the uniaxial nematic F phase: line defects (disclinations) and point defects (hedgehogs and boojums). These are reviewed at three levels: (i) experimental observations; (ii) topological classification; and (iii) curvature elasticity. The reader is referred to the textbooks on liquid crystals (Chandrasekhar 1992, de Gennes and Prost 1993), defects (Kltman 1983),...