16 nov 2016 -- 18:00   [open in google calendar]

Sala Seminari Dipartimento di matematica di Pisa

Abstract.

I will introduce a discrete variational model for chiral liquid crystals. The order parameter in this model is an angle measuring the orientation of the chiral molecules. The corresponding energy is a slight variant of the XY energy, which also accounts for the chirality transitions. The main goal is to deduce, in the limit as the lattice spacing tends to zero, a continuous model describing topological defects and discontinuity set of the order parameter. This is a joint work with R. Badal, M. Cicalese and L. De Luca.