THURSDAY, November 15, 2007
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Health 2000

Title: Nematic Liquid Crystal Phases Under External Fields

Prof. Qi Wang
Department of Mathematics
Director of Applied and Compuational Mathematics Program
Florida State University

In this talk, I will survey the study of nematic liquid crystal polymers, in particular, the homogeneous phases under imposed electric and/or magnetic fields. We begin with the classical Onsager-Maier-Saupe phase transition. I will gradually introduce additional intermolecular interaction and the coupling of the external fields to the intermolecular potential. I will give both a rigorous mathematical proof for the existence of certain stable nematic phases and numerical calculations of the feasible phases. Phase diagram in important parameter space will be discussed in the end.