Remarks on the flow alignment of disc like nematics

Abstract

The nature of the flow alignment of nematic liquid crystals is discussed within the hydrodynamic theory of Leslie, Ericksen and Parodi. It is shown that there is a limited range of angles for which flow alignment can occur. With this as a starting point the flow alignment of disc like nematics is discussed. It is proved that only one out of the two models of flow alignment recently discussed in the literature [2-4] is consistent with the hydrodynamic theory of nematics