Abstract

We propose a continuum model to describe the molecular alignment in thin nematic shells. By contrast with previous accounts, the two-dimensional free energy, aimed at describing the physics of thin films of nematics deposited on curved substrates, is not postulated, but it is deduced from the conventional three-dimensional theories of nematic liquid crystals. Both the director and the order-tensor theories are taken into account. The so-obtained surface energies exhibit extra terms compared to earlier models. These terms reflect the coupling of the shell extrinsic curvature with the nematic order parameters. As expected, the shape of the shell plays a key role in the equilibrium configurations of nematics coating it.

Autore Pugliese

• Napoli Gaetano

Tutti gli autori

• G. Napoli , L. Vergori

Titolo volume/Rivista

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0031-9007

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

44

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

45

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile