Introduction to Q-tensor theory
Mottram, Nigel and Newton, C.J.P. (2014) Introduction to Q-tensor theory. Preprint / Working Paper. arXiv.org.
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Abstract
This paper aims to provide an introduction to a basic form of the Q-tensor approach to modelling liquid crystals, which has seen increased interest in recent years. The increase in interest in this type of modelling approach has been driven by investigations into the fundamental nature of defects and new applications of liquid crystals such as bistable displays and colloidal systems for which a description of defects and disorder is essential. The work in this paper is not new research, rather it is an introductory guide for anyone wishing to model a system using such a theory. A more complete mathematical description of this theory, including a description of flow effects, can be found in numerous sources but the books by Virga and Sonnet and Virga are recommended. More information can be obtained from the plethora of papers using such approaches, although a general introduction for the novice is lacking. The first few sections of this paper will detail the development of the Q-tensor approach for nematic liquid crystalline systems and construct the free energy and governing equations for the mesoscopic dependent variables. A number of device surface treatments are considered and theoretical boundary conditions are specified for each instance. Finally, an example of a real device is demonstrated.
ORCID iDs
Mottram, Nigel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7265-0059 and Newton, C.J.P.;-
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Item type: Monograph(Preprint / Working Paper) ID code: 50668 Dates: DateEvent12 September 2014PublishedSubjects: Science > Mathematics > Probabilities. Mathematical statistics Department: Faculty of Science > Mathematics and Statistics Depositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 04 Dec 2014 05:10 Last modified: 13 Oct 2024 00:14 Related URLs: URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/50668