https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2017-11537-1
Regular Article
Generalization of the Ericksen-Leslie theory
Unidade Acadêmica do Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, BR 101 Sul, 5225, 54503-900, Ponte dos Carvalhos, Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil
* e-mail: carlindo.vitoriano@ufrpe.br
Received:
20
October
2016
Accepted:
24
March
2017
Published online:
24
April
2017
We generalize the Ericksen-Leslie theory for the dynamics of nematic liquid crystals by including the director-density coupling energy . It corresponds to the cost in energy due to the interaction of spatially varying mass density
and the liquid crystal director
. A striking confirmation of the theory is achieved by confronting it with experimental data on acoustical Fréedericksz transition.
Key words: Soft Matter: Liquid crystals
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2017