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Disclination Asymmetry in Two-Dimensional Nematic Liquid Crystals with Unequal Frank Constants

Michael W. Deem
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Abstract

The behavior of a thin film of nematic liquid crystal with unequal Frank constants is discussed. Distinct Frank constants are found to imply unequal core energies for $+1/2$ and $-1/2$ disclinations. Even so, a topological constraint is shown to ensure that the bulk densities of the two types of disclinations are the same. For a system with free boundary conditions, such as a liquid membrane, unequal core energies simply renormalize the Gaussian rigidity and line tension.

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Michael W. Deem. 1996-06-19. Disclination Asymmetry in Two-Dimensional Nematic Liquid Crystals with Unequal Frank Constants. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.54.6441

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