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Published on: September 20, 2017
Statistical foundations of liquid-crystal theory: II: Macroscopic balance laws
1Department of Mathematics and Statistics, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 2K6, Tel.: 514-398-2998, , bseguin@math.mcgill.ca.
Abstract:
Working on a state space determined by considering a discrete system of rigid rods, we use nonequilibrium statistical mechanics to derive macroscopic balance laws for liquid crystals. A probability function that satisfies the Liouville equation serves as the starting point for deriving each macroscopic balance. The terms appearing in the derived balances are interpreted as expected values and explicit formulas for these terms are obtained. Among the list of derived balances appear two, the tensor moment of inertia balance and the mesofluctuation balance, that are not standard in previously proposed macroscopic theories for liquid crystals but which have precedents in other theories for structured media.
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