Abstract
Energy minimizing static configurations of nematic liquid crystals with variable degree of orientation can be described by a map which minimizes certain degenerate variational integrals. This mathematical model was recently posed by J. L. Erickson. In this paper, we shall prove the existence, local uniqueness, and global regularity of minimizers. We shall also estimate the size of possible defects.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 453-468 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1991 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics