CONSTITUTIVE THEORY FOR 2-DIMENSIONAL LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Two dimensional liquid crystal are considered as mathematical surfaces of discontinuity of the bulk fields. The equations of motion for the relevant surface fields in the presence of electromagnetic fields are summarized. These are the mechanical balance equations, Maxwell's equa tions, and an equation of motion for the second order alignment tenser . The restrictions to constitutive functions implied by the Second Law of Thermodynamics are discussed. The stress tensor can be calculated in the frame of this phenomenological theory. For the alignment produc tion a statistical background is needed, what is very shortly outlined .