title: Instability modes of high-strength disclinations in nematics.
abstract: We solve the complete tensor fluctuation problem of a long and straight nematic disclination line with a general winding number in the one elastic constant approximation. Focusing on the eigenmodes growing in time, we show that the disclination with strength higher than 1/2 is unstable with respect to the splitting and for integer strength also to the escape--in both cases there is no metastability. Numerically we show that a moderate elastic anisotropy, e.g., as found in thermotropic liquid crystals like 5CB or MBBA, does not introduce any metastability either.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. svensek@fmf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Svensek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zumer