Viscosity coefficients of a biaxial nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

Using Saupe's continuum theory of orthorhombic nematics it is shown that the twelve viscosity coefficients may be estimated by measurements of shear viscosities, ultrasonic reflection, damped oscillations in a magnetic field, flow alignment angles and dynamics above the Freedericksz threshold. Some simple solutions are also presented for the case of the rotating magnetic field and of the rotating fluid in the presence of a stationary magnetic field.