title: Dynamical numerical model for nematic order reconstruction.
abstract: In highly frustrated calamitic nematic liquid crystals, a strong elastic distortion can be confined on a few nanometers. The classical elastic theory fails to describe such systems and a more complete description based on the tensor order parameter Q is required. A finite element method is used to implement the Q dynamics by a variational principle and it is shown that a uniaxial nematic configuration can evolve passing through transient biaxial states. This solution, which connects two competing uniaxial nematic textures, is known as "nematic order reconstruction."
authors.affiliation: CNR-INFM LiCryL, CEMIF-Center of Excellence for Innovative and Functional Materials, Physics Department, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy. lombardo@fis.unical.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayeb
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barberi