title: Stability of equilibrium states for ferroelectric smectic-C* liquid crystals in finite and infinite samples
abstract: The aim of this article is to establish some theoretical linear and nonlinear stability results for a dynamic equation that frequently appears in the smectic-C and ferroelectric smectic-C* liquid crystal literature. We consider finite planar samples confined between bounding plates as well as infinite samples. Many of the results depend on extensions of work for a nonlinear diffusion equation. Critical maximum magnitudes of applied static electric fields are determined, below which stability of a certain constant equilibrium state is ensured.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Strathclyde, Livingstone Tower, 26 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XH, United Kingdom.
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Stewart