Optimal periodic structures with general space group symmetries in the Ohta-Kawasaki problem

Abstract

We consider the problem of rigorously computing periodic minimizers to the Ohta-Kawasaki energy. We develop a method to prove existence of solutions and determine rigorous bounds on the distance between our numerical approximations and the true infinite dimensional solution and also on the energy. We use a method with prescribed symmetries to explore the phase space, computing candidate minimizers both with and without experimentally observed symmetries. We find qualitative differences between the phase diagram of the Ohta-Kawasaki energy and self consistent field theory when well away form the weak segregation limit.