Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 344 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Let be the polar molecular field, with the positive functional derivative convention used in the paper. During a pure advective displacement , the polar order parameter changes byThe free energy change is . Assume periodic boundaries, or boundary conditions that eliminate the surface work, and incompressibility . Integration by parts in the advective term givesRelabelling the dummy indices in the rotational and flow alignment of a polar order parameter terms givesTherefore , with the reversible stress of a polar liquid crystalFor a local free-energy density , an explicit choice isIts divergence is exactly , by the Euler-Lagrange equation for . A pressure term can be reassigned in an incompressible flow; the chosen representative realizes the printed divergence without that ambiguity. The force density has mechanical power , the negative of the advective free energy rate, which checks the stress sign.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 344 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The polar molecular field isFor a spatially uniform polar order parameter, , so it is colinear with and its magnitude is . The scalar factor can be negative; colinearity does not necessarily mean parallel orientation.
For the simple shear flow, the paper's velocity gradient convention givesSubstitute these matrices into . Projection along and perpendicular to the polar order parameter yieldsAssume , , and . The flow-alignment angle in planar shear must satisfyFor , use the cosine equation: modulo , and the displayed tangent is infinite. The radial equation giveswhere the sign distinguishes the angular branches, and only positive right-hand sides are ordered solutions. Linearizing the angular equation gives . For , the stable angular branch therefore hasIts radial relaxation eigenvalue is . At the angular linearization is marginal and requires . If , the shear restriction disappears and any orientation is allowed for . The printed request for dependence only on omits : in general the magnitude necessarily depends on it.
Reversible stress of a polar liquid crystal 2026-10-05
Using the positive polar molecular field and velocity gradient , the reversible order-parameter stress consists of a distortion contribution and rotational and alignment contributions:For a local free-energy density, a representative is . The Euler-Lagrange equation verifies its divergence. Integration by parts gives for an incompressible displacement without surface work; the corresponding mechanical power has the opposite sign. Pressure contributions may be reassigned in an incompressible flow.