Journal of Physical Studies 12(4), Article 4601 [4 pages] (2008) DOI: https://doi.org/10.30970/jps.12.4601 ROTATIONAL DEFORMATION INSTABILITY IN NEMATIC DUE TO LAYER SURFACE CURVATURE A. N. Vasilev, N. P. Podolyak Taras Shevchenko Kyiv University, Physics Faculty, Department of Theoretical Physics, 2, Glushkov prosp., Building, 1, Kyiv, UA--03680, Ukraine e-mail: vasilev@univ.kiev.ua

It is shown that surface curvature in the nematic layer causes some instability of the system toward rotational deformations of the director. We find conditions for rotational deformations to appear and propose a phase diagram for the system to determine its stable and unstable states.

PACS number(s): 61.30.Cz, 61.30.Gd

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