Elementary Course On The Continuum Theory For Nematic Liquid Crystals, An

This text offers a course on the continuum theory for nematic liquid crystals. It was written to enable physicists and engineers to learn some topics in variational calculus, theory of elasticity, molecular models, and surface properties of nematic materials.

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This book was written to enable physicists and engineers to learn, within a single course, some topics in variational calculus, theory of elasticity, molecular models, and surface properties of nematic materials. It prepares graduate students for studies that require a simple knowledge in the physics of nematic liquid crystals.With this consideration in mind, the authors have formulated the problems concerning the continuum theory of liquid crystals into a precise form. In working out the solutions, they have analyzed, systematically and naturally, the techniques and methods of variational calculus. Special attention is dedicated to the analysis of well-posed and ill-posed variational problems. The presence of sub-surface discontinuity in the nematic orientation is analyzed using different techniques. A full chapter is devoted to this aspect of the theory of elasticity of nematic media.