The pair annihilation of straight line defects with strength Ϯ1/2 in bulk nematic systems is studied numerically, considering a full coupling of orientational degrees of freedom and hydrodynamics. This work is based on the generalization of the Ericksen-Leslie theory to the tensor order parameter as proposed by Qian and Sheng ͓T. Qian and P. Sheng, Phys. Rev. E 58, 7475 ͑1998͔͒. The approach is particularly suited for the late stages of the annihilation process. It is confirmed that the ϩ1/2 disclination line moves considerably faster than the Ϫ1/2 one ͑e.g., twice as fast͒ due to the hydrodynamic flow. Symmetries of the important stress tensor terms upon inverting the sign of the winding number and performing a homogeneous in-plane rotation of the Q-tensor eigensystem are discussed. The stress tensor terms that dominantly contribute to the advective flow and to the flow asymmetry are identified.

We measure the electric-field-driven annihilation of nematic disclination pairs with strength +/- 1/2 in the 4-cyano-4'-n-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal. The use of a very weak azimuthal anchoring ensures a two-dimensional director field. The relaxation is governed by the formation of a pi wall connecting the two opposite charge defects. The +1/2 disclinations move almost twice as fast as the -1/2 disclinations. The simple used geometry allows a quantitative comparison with numerical studies based on the hydrodynamics of the tensorial order parameter. The simulations show that in the pi wall regime the symmetry breaking is due to the backflow and not to the elastic anisotropy.

We investigate the tight packing of nematic polymers inside a confining hard sphere. We model the polymer via the continuum Frank elastic free energy augmented by a simple density dependent part as well as by taking proper care of the connectivity of the polymer chains when compared with simple nematics. The free energy ansatz is capable of describing an orientational ordering transition within the sample between an isotropic polymer solution and a polymer nematic phase. We solve the Euler-Lagrange equations numerically with the appropriate boundary conditions for the director and density field and investigate the orientation and density profile within a sphere. Two important parameters of the solution are the exact locations of the beginning and the end of the polymer chain. Pending on their spatial distribution and the actual size of the hard sphere enclosure we can get a plethora of various configurations of the chain exhibiting different defect geometry.