Layer Undulations in Smectic a Liquid Crystals
نویسندگان
چکیده
We investigate instabilities of smectic A liquid crystals when a magnetic field is applied in the direction parallel to smectic layers. We use the Landau-de Gennes model of smectic A liquid crystals to characterize the critical magnetic field. When smectic A liquid crystals are confined between parallel plates, we derive analytic estimates for the magnetic field strength, at which the undeformed state loses its stability. We also present numerical simulations to confirm the Helfrich-Hurault effect due to the applied magnetic field.
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