Structure factor for phase ordering in nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

We present an approximate analytical calculation of the time-dependent structure factor for the phase-ordering dynamics of nematic liquid crystals. The structure factor is found to exhibit a ${\mathit{k}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}5}$ tail, due to the presence of 1/2 integrally charged string defects. Our theoretical results are in good agreement with simulation data, and are consistent with recent experiments.