Stability of the vortex defect in the Landau-de Gennes theory for nematic liquid crystals

We analyze the radially symmetric solution corresponding to the vortex defect (the so-called melting hedgehog) in the Landau-de Gennes theory for nematic liquid crystals. We prove the existence, uniqueness and stability results of the melting hedgehog. (C) 2013 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.