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SUMMARY:Continuum Theories for Liquid Crystals and their Applications - Ap
 ala Majumdar (University of Strathclyde)
DTSTART:20250818T134500Z
DTEND:20250818T143000Z
UID:TALK234709@talks.cam.ac.uk
DESCRIPTION:Liquid crystals are classical examples of partially ordered ma
 terials that combine fluidity with the directionality and ordering of soli
 ds. Liquid crystals are anisotropic materials\, with direction-dependent p
 hysical\, optical and rheological properties\, making them the working mat
 erial of choice for a range of opto-electronic devices\, e.g.\, liquid cry
 stal displays\, photonics\, sensors\, photovoltaics etc. In this talk\, we
  review the mathematical theories for three canonical liquid crystal phase
 s: nematic liquid crystals\, smectic liquid crystals and cholesteric liqui
 d crystals. We focus on Landau-de Gennes type theories for these phases an
 d&nbsp\;describe the essential mathematical frameworks - the liquid crysta
 l order parameters\, the free energies\, the governing systems of partial 
 differential equations and their solution landscapes. We conclude with som
 e case studies that illustrate the applications of these mathematical fram
 eworks to prototype devices and real-life experiments. All collaborations 
 will be acknowledged throughout the talk.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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