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  2. Critical Behavior at the Isotropic-To-Nematic Phase Transition in a Bent-Core Liquid Crystal
Author(s)
Abstract

Magnetic birefringence and dynamic light scattering measurements of orientational order parameter fluctuations at the isotropic-nematic phase transition of a bent-core liquid crystal reveal a pretransitional temperature dependence consistent with the standard Landau-deGennes mean field theory. However, as follows: the transition in the bent-core compound is more weakly first order (T(NI)-T(*)approximate to 0.4 degrees C), the leading Landau coefficient is similar to 30 times lower, the viscosity associated with nematic order fluctuations is similar to 10 times higher, and the density change is similar to 10 times lower, than typically observed in calamitic (rod-shaped) liquid crystals. One consistent explanation for these anomalies is an optically isotropic phase composed of microscopic complexes or "clusters" of bent-core molecules.
Format
Article
Identifier(s)
10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030703
Publication Date
2006-03-15
Publication Title
Physical Review E
Volume
73
Issue
3
Keywords
Subject
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Community
Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program
Comments

Copyright 2006 American Physical Society. Available on publisher's site at http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030703
Permalink https://oaks.kent.edu/cpippubs/164
Wiant, D., Stojadinovic, S., Neupane, K., Sharma, S., Fodor-Csorba, K., Jakli, A., Gleeson, J., & Sprunt, S. (2006). Critical Behavior at the Isotropic-To-Nematic Phase Transition in a Bent-Core Liquid Crystal (1–). Physical Review E. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030703
Wiant, D., S. Stojadinovic, K. Neupane, S. Sharma, Katalin Fodor-Csorba, Antal Jakli, James Gleeson, and Samuel Sprunt. 2006. “Critical Behavior at the Isotropic-To-Nematic Phase Transition in a Bent-Core Liquid Crystal”. Physical Review E. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030703.
Wiant, D., et al. Critical Behavior at the Isotropic-To-Nematic Phase Transition in a Bent-Core Liquid Crystal. Physical Review E, 15 Mar. 2006, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030703.