@Article{CiCP-19-354,
author = {Yucheng Hu, Yang Qu, and Pingwen Zhang},
title = {On the Disclination Lines of Nematic Liquid Crystals},
journal = {Communications in Computational Physics},
year = {2018},
volume = {19},
number = {2},
pages = {354--379},
abstract = {<p style="text-align: justify;">Defects in liquid crystals are of great practical importance and theoretical
interest. Despite tremendous efforts, predicting the location and transition of defects
under various topological constraint and external field remains to be a challenge.
We investigate defect patterns of nematic liquid crystals confined in three-dimensional
spherical droplet and two-dimensional disk under different boundary
conditions, within the Landau-de Gennes model. We implement a spectral method
that numerically solves the Landau-de Gennes model with high accuracy, which allows
us to study the detailed static structure of defects. We observe five types of defect
structures. Among them the 1/2-disclination lines are the most stable structure at low
temperature. Inspired by numerical results, we obtain the profile of disclination lines
analytically. Moreover, the connection and difference between defect patterns under
the Landau-de Gennes model and the Oseen-Frank model are discussed. Finally, three
conjectures are made to summarize some important characteristics of defects in the
Landau-de Gennes theory. This work is a continuing effort to deepen our understanding
on defect patterns in nematic liquid crystals.</p>},
issn = {1991-7120},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.4208/cicp.210115.180515a},
url = {http://global-sci.org/intro/article_detail/cicp/11092.html}
}