BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Order tensors of equilibrium phases - Virga\, EG (Universit degli 
 Studi di Pavia)
DTSTART:20130107T140000Z
DTEND:20130107T150000Z
UID:TALK42303@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:Order in fluids is described by means of tensorial measures wh
 ich have in general a statistical derivation\, as appropriate moments of a
  molecular distribution function. Their very definition places order tenso
 rs at the crossroad between microscopic and macroscopic approaches\, in th
 at land of middle where "mesoscopic" theories flourish. We shall give spec
 ific examples of how different order tensors can describe the equilibrium 
 phases of different ordered fluids. Both uniaxial and biaxial nematic liqu
 id crystals will be covered\, as well as smectic liquid crystals\, thus sh
 owing how both orientational and spatial orderings can be represented in o
 ne and the same setting. Our presentation will not be limited to phases in
  bulk\; ordering at interfaces will also be considered along with the ways
  it can be affected by the surface curvature. Similarly\, ordering of flui
 ds on two-dimensional curved manifolds will be described\, and an "augment
 ed" theory will be presente d for nematic shells\, which to the in-plane o
 rientational order adds information on the escape of molecules along the s
 hell's normal.\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR