Mechanics of nematic membranes: Euler-Lagrange equations, Noether charges, stress, torque and boundary conditions of the surface Frank nematic field

Abstract

The mechanics of a flexible membrane decorated with a nematic liquid-crystal texture is considered in a variational framework. The variations on the splay, twist and the bend energy of the nematics are obtained from the local deformations leading to changes in the shape membrane. The Euler-Lagrange derivatives and the Noether charges are identified from the variational equations. The nematic stress tensor is obtained as a consequence of translational invariance. Likewise, the rotational invariance implies the torque nematic tensor. The corresponding boundary conditions are obtained for free edges in the open-membrane configuration. These results constitute the basis of a generalized theory of elasticity for anisotropic nematic membranes. Some relevant consequences of the presence of nematic ordering are visualized at revolution surfaces with axial symmetry.