Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.299, 301-306, 1997
Disclination Loop in Mori-Nakanishi Ansatz - Role of the Divergence Elasticity
Energetic stability of loop defects in nematic liquid crystal is analysed using Mori-Nakanishi ansatz and Frank-Oseen theory with non-sere K-24 divergence term. The ratio of the bulk and divergence elastic constants defines a characteristic material length, which is the equilibrium radius a* of the disclination ring. Positive K-24 forces the ring to shrink.