MAGNETIC-FIELD EFFECTS IN A NEMATIC CELL WITH A HIGH TILT ANGLE (FIRST-ORDER THEORY)

Within the framework of so-called ''first-order elastic theory'' we co nsider distortions in a nematic cell with tilted molecular orientation subjected to a tilted magnetic field. The geometry has been suggested by Faetti to rest the validity of different approaches to the problem of the divergence K-13 elastic term. According to the first-order ela stic theory, in which only the first and second derivatives in the ela stic free energy are retained, the K-13 term causes deformations at th e cell surface when a magnetic field is applied along the initial dire ctor n. We discuss conditions that should be satisfied in order to obs erve the instability.