Enhancement of Nematic Order of Liquid Crystals in Thin Cells

• Authors: P. Aswini , A. Govind
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Experimental observations show that the nematic order parameter is significantly enhanced as the thickness of the cell is reduced. Calculations of earlier theories do not agree well with the experimental data. We propose a simple extension of Maier-Saupe theory to account for the enhancement. A molecule near the surface is assumed to feel the mean field potential (the Maier-Saupe type) and also the surface induced potential. This is included in the Maier-Saupe theory. Our calculations are in better agreement with the experimental data.

Keywords

EN

61.30.Gd; 61.30.-v; 64.70.mf

Discipline

• 61.30.Gd: Orientational order of liquid crystals; electric and magnetic field effects on order
• 61.30.-v: Liquid crystals(for phase transitions in liquid crystals, see 64.70.M-; for liquid crystals as dielectric materials, see 77.84.Nh; for liquid crystals as optical materials, see 42.70.Df; for liquid crystal devices, see 42.79.Kr)
• 64.70.mf: Theory and modeling of specific liquid crystal transitions, including computer simulation

• Publisher: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 121
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 625-627

Dates

published

2012-03

received

2011-11-24

Contributors

author

P. Aswini

• Department of Physics, Vijaya College, R.V. Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560 004 India
• MGR Educational and Research Institute, Deemed University, Chennai, India

author

A. Govind

• Department of Physics, Vijaya College, R.V. Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560 004 India

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.12693/APhysPolA.121.625