Torus-like solutions for the Landau-de Gennes model. Part II: Topology of [formula omitted]-equivariant minimizers

Abstract

We study energy minimization of a continuum Landau-de Gennes energy functional for nematic liquid crystals, in a three-dimensional axisymmetric domain and in a restricted class of S1-equivariant (i.e., axially symmetric) configurations. We assume smooth and nonvanishing S1-equivariant (e.g. homeotropic) Dirichlet boundary condition and a physically relevant norm constraint (the Lyuksyutov constraint) in the interior. Relying on our previous results in the nonsymmetric setting [16], we prove partial regularity of minimizers away from a possible finite set of interior singularities located on the symmetry axis. For a suitable class of domains and boundary data, we show that for smooth minimizers (torus solutions) the level sets of the signed biaxiality are generically finite unions of tori of revolution. Concerning nonsmooth minimizers (split solutions), we characterize their asymptotic behavior around any singular point in terms of explicit S1-equivariant harmonic maps into S4, whence the generic level sets of the signed biaxiality contains invariant topological spheres. Finally, in the model case of a nematic droplet, we provide existence of torus solutions, at least when the boundary data are suitable uniaxial deformations of the radial anchoring, and existence of split solutions for boundary data which are suitable linearly full harmonic spheres.