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  2. Density-functional theory of nematic and smectic-A order near surfaces
Author(s)
Abstract

We present a density-functional theory for the growth of equilibrium nematic and smectic-A wetting layers near free surfaces. In the nematic case our theory predicts complete wetting, with the integrated order parameter diverging logarithmically as one approaches the ordering temperature from the isotropic phase. When a smectic phase is approached from the isotropic phase, we find a discrete series of metastable surface phases with integral numbers of layers of smectic order, and incomplete wetting with one or two first-order layering transitions among these surface phases. These results agree qualitatively with recent experiments.
Format
Article
Identifier(s)
10.1103/physreva.37.1736
Publication Date
1988-03
Publication Title
Physical Review A
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
37
Issue
5
First Page
1736
Last Page
1746
Subject
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
License
http://link.aps.org/licenses/aps-default-license
Community
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
Department of Physics
Permalink https://oaks.kent.edu/article/density-functional-theory-nematic-and-smectic-order-near-surfaces
Selinger, J., & Nelson, D. (1988). Density-functional theory of nematic and smectic-A order near surfaces (1–). Physical Review A. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.37.1736
Selinger, Jonathan, and David Nelson. 1988. “Density-Functional Theory of Nematic and Smectic-A Order Near Surfaces”. Physical Review A. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.37.1736.
Selinger, Jonathan, and David Nelson. Density-Functional Theory of Nematic and Smectic-A Order Near Surfaces. Physical Review A, Mar. 1988, https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.37.1736.