ASYMPTOTICS OF MINIMIZERS OF VARIATIONAL PROBLEMS IN A MULTI-CONNECTED DOMAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE THEORY OF LIQUID CRYSTALS

Abstract

We consider the asymptotic behavior of minimizers of the Ericksen functional with the Dirichlet boundary condition in a general domain. We examine the asymptotic behavior of minimizers of the functional as some of the elastic coefficients tend to the infinity, according to the de Gennes predictions with respect to nematic smectic-A phase transition.