 Quarter-turn nematic instability threshold

For planar strong anchoring and a quarter-turn base profile, ${\varphi }^{\prime }=\pi /(2L)$ and $\theta =0$. Expanding the one-dimensional twisted nematic energy through quadratic order gives $\Delta F=\frac{1}{2}\int [K_1{\theta }^{\prime 2}+\{(K_3-2K_2)(\pi /(2L){)}^2-\Delta ϵE^2/(4\pi )\}{\theta }^2]dz$. The lowest zero-endpoint mode is $\sin (\pi z/L)$. Its coefficient vanishes at the displayed threshold, with $V=EL$, provided the bracket and anisotropy are positive. Halving the electric coupling doubles $V_c^2$.