Molecular simulation and theory of a liquid crystalline disclination core

Molecular simulations of a nematic liquid crystal confined Fn cylinder geom etry with homeotropic anchoring have been carried out. The core structure o f a disclination line defect of strength +1 has been examined, and comparis on made with various theoretical treatments, which are presented in a unifi ed way. It is found that excellent fits to the cylindrically symmetrized or der tensor profiles may be obtained with appropriate parameter choices; not withstanding this, on the time scales of the simulation, the cylindrical sy mmetry of the fore is broken and two defects of strength +1/2 may be resolv ed. PACS number(s): 61.30.Cz, 61.30.Jf, 61.20.Ja, 07.05.Tp.