Type
ArticleKAUST Grant Number
KUK-C1-013-04Date
2017-01-16Online Publication Date
2017-01-16Print Publication Date
2017-05Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/623570
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
We study planar nematic equilibria on a two-dimensional annulus with strong and weak tangent anchoring, in the Oseen–Frank theoretical framework. We analyze a radially invariant defect-free state and compute analytic stability criteria for this state in terms of the elastic anisotropy, annular aspect ratio, and anchoring strength. In the strong anchoring case, we define and characterize a new spiral-like equilibrium which emerges as the defect-free state loses stability. In the weak anchoring case, we compute stability diagrams that quantify the response of the defect-free state to radial and azimuthal perturbations. We study sector equilibria on sectors of an annulus, including the effects of weak anchoring and elastic anisotropy, giving novel insights into the correlation between preferred numbers of boundary defects and the geometry. We numerically demonstrate that these sector configurations can approximate experimentally observed equilibria with boundary defects.Citation
Lewis AH, Aarts DGAL, Howell PD, Majumdar A (2017) Nematic Equilibria on a Two-Dimensional Annulus. Studies in Applied Mathematics 138: 438–466. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sapm.12161.Sponsors
We thank Dr. Oliver Dammone for valuable discussions. AL is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) studentship. AM is supported by an EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship EP/J001686/1 and EP/J001686/2, an OCCAM Visiting Fellowship and the Keble Advanced Studies Centre. This publication is partly based on work supported by Award No. KUK-C1-013-04, made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). In compliance with EPSRC's open access initiative, the data in this paper are available from https://doi.org/10.5287/bodleian:R59G8pEMv.Publisher
WileyJournal
Studies in Applied Mathematicsae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/sapm.12161