Time Evolution of Nematic Liquid Crystals with Variable Degree of Orientation

Abstract

We consider an evolution system, describing the time-dependent behavior of nematic liquid crystals with variable degree of orientation within the continuum model of Ericksen. We establish a dissipation relation and prove both the global existence of weak solutions and the local existence of classical solutions. Furthermore, we investigate the stability and long-time behavior of solutions and obtain an exact solution of the corresponding stationary system in a one-dimensional case.