We show that a surface field localized near the bounding surface over a mesoscopic length gives rise to a subsurface discontinuity. Our result is compared with a recent elastic theory in which the subsurface distortion is due to the splay-bend elastic constant. By means of our model, the interpretation of continuous surface variations of the average nematic orientation is given and compared with the elastic model.

• Received 24 August 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.53.R4299