Mathematics

A variational model proposed in the physics literature to describe the onset of pattern formation in two-component bilayer membranes and amphiphilic monolayers leads to the analysis of a Ginzburg-Landau type energy with a negative term depending on the first derivative of the phase function. Scaling arguments motivate the study of the family of second order singular perturbed energies Fe having a negative term depending on the first derivative of the phase function. Here, the asymptotic behavior of {Fe} is studied using G-convergence techniques. In particular, compactness results and an integral representation of the limit energy are obtained.