COUPLING BETWEEN ELASTIC-DEFORMATION AND CONCENTRATION IN A 2-COMPONENT NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

It is shown that a coupling between elastic deformation and concentrat ion can exist in a two-component nematic liquid crystal. A simple phen omenological extension of the theory of elastic deformations in nemati cs to this case is presented. An experimental geometry where the stren gth of this effect may be estimated is discussed. Further, this coupli ng is shown to lead to lower energies of disclinations and may account for the experimentally observed stability of some high-strength discl inations in a doped nematic.