Abstract
In this chapter, we explain the rationale behind the theoretical modeling of liquid crystals and explain the important steps to construct a realistic and accurate model for a particular physical system. We then summarize two commonly used theories of nematics: one based on using the director as a dependent variable and one based on using the tensor order parameter. Using an example problem, the π-cell, we show the advantages and disadvantages of these two theoretical approaches, demonstrating the importance of carefully considering the choice of model before embarking on simulations.
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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Mottram, N.J., Newton, C.J.P. (2014). Liquid Crystal Theory and Modeling. In: Chen, J., Cranton, W., Fihn, M. (eds) Handbook of Visual Display Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35947-7_87-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35947-7_87-2
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