Stability of a hyperbolic disclination ring in a nematic liquid crystal

The stability of a hyperbolic disclination ring in a nematic liquid crystal is considered by extending the argument for a radial disclination ring due to Mori and Nakanishi. The ring configuration is indeed stable in the presence of the saddle-splay elasticity (characterized by K-24). The ring radius is estimated to be asimilar to2.9r(c), with r(c) being the core radius when K(24)similar or equal toK/2, where K is the Frank elastic constant in the one-constant approximation.