ANNIHILATION AND CREATION OF DEFECTS IN NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS - INTERACTION BETWEEN CYLINDRICAL-TYPE DEFECTS

The interaction between cylindrical-type defects is considered in the single-constant approximation of the continuum theory of the nematic s tate. It is established that the annihilation of a pair of such defect s substantially depends on the direction of escape of initial defects; in this case, either disclinations or cylindrical-type defects can ar ise. It is also shown that, in describing topological properties of cy lindrical-type defects, one should take into account the parameter cha racterizing their escape in addition to the force characterizing the d eformation of a nematic liquid crystal.