Poisson Bracket Formulation of Nematic Polymer Dynamics

Abstract

We formulate the dynamical theory of nematic polymers, starting from a microscopic Poisson bracket approach. We find that the Poisson bracket between the nematic director and momentum depends on the (Maier-Saupe) order parameter of the nematic phase. We use this to derive reactive couplings of the nematic director to the strain rates. Additionally, we find that local dynamics breaks down as the polymers begin to overlap. We offer a physical picture for both results.