Surface order forces in nematic liquid crystals

The notion of surface order force in nematic liquid crystals is presented and contrasted with the notions of similar forces already introduced in the literature. We illustrate how a surface order force could in principle be measured and how it would convey the mechanical signature of an intrinsically nanoscopic phenomenon, often referred to as order reconstruction. The relationship between this force and the occurrence of biaxial states of the nematic order tensor is further illuminated.