Shape Optimization Problems in Liquid Crystals

Tim Atherton (Tufts University, USA)

Thursday 4th February, 2021 14:00-15:00 ZOOM (ID: 971 6941 8682)

Abstract

Topic: Applied Mathematics Seminar-Atherton
Start Time : Feb 4, 2021 01:50 PM

Meeting Recording:
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/rec/share/yGSKCFIcKWJ9XDDmmvaJSV_IoY2ZCt24bYQu5XrsbCWAbW-597ejOZf81Qhw2onh.uNDPsO3AHjWfiHCw

Access Passcode: See the e-mail with subject: Seminar recording password

 

Liquid crystals are complex fluids that exhibit orientational order and, consequently, anisotropic elasticity and surface tension. Boundaries are an essential mechanism to control LC materials: they may induce a local orientation or preferred ordering and, globally, can enforce topological constraints that promote or inhibit defect formation. In many emerging applications, the boundary of the system is not fixed and stationary states of the system must be determined by extremizing the free energy both with respect to the order and the overall shape of the system. Results obtained with an explicit finite element method are presented for a selection of applications, from tactoids to patterned films.

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