DISCLINATION MOTION IN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE FILMS
Kats E.I., Lebedev V.V., Malinin S.V.

Received: May 24, 2002

PACS: 05.20.-y, 82.65.-i, 68.10.-m, 82.70.-y

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We theoretically study a single disclination motion in a thin free-standing liquid crystalline film. Back-flow effects and the own dynamics of the orientational degree of freedom (bond or director angle) are taken into account. We find the orientation field and the hydrodynamic velocity distribution around the moving disclination, which allows us to relate the disclination velocity to the angle gradient far from the disclination. Different cases are examined depending on the ratio of the rotational and shear viscosity coefficients.