  We demonstrate theory and computations for finite-energy line defect
solutions in an improvement of Ericksen-Leslie liquid crystal theory. Planar
director fields are considered in two and three space dimensions, and we
demonstrate straight as well as loop disclination solutions. The possibility of
static balance of forces in the presence of a disclination and in the absence
of flow and body forces is discussed. The work exploits an implicit conceptual
connection between the Weingarten-Volterra characterization of possible jumps
in certain potential fields and the Stokes-Helmholtz resolution of vector
fields. The theoretical basis of our work is compared and contrasted with the
theory of Volterra disclinations in elasticity. Physical reasoning precluding a
gauge-invariant structure for the model is also presented.
