The magnetic field-induced deformations in nematic layers with non-zero splay-bend elastic constant

Abstract

The magnetic field-induced deformations of weakly anchored nematic layers in the presence of the non-zero splay-bend elastic constant K ₁₃ are analysed by use of the Pergamenshchik approach. Most of the anomalous phenomena reported by other authors, that do not occur if k ₁₃ = 0, have been confirmed. New effects suitable for experimental verification are predicted: the discontinuous transition with hysteresis between the uniform undistorted state and the state uniformly aligned along the field, and the rotation of the director in the tilted layer during continuous increase and decrease of the perpendicular field.