1. Open Access Kent State
  2. Magnetic-Field Induced Isotropic to Nematic Liquid Crystal Phase Transition
Author(s)
Abstract
We report on measurements of magnetic-field induced nematic order in the bent-core liquid crystal 4-chlororesorcinol bis[4-(4-n-dodecyloxybenzoyloxy) benzoate]. Using the 31 T solenoid at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, we have observed, at temperatures less than 1 degrees above the clearing point, a first-order transition to the nematic phase. The critical magnetic field at which this occurs increases with temperature. We discuss these results within the context of both Maier-Saupe and Landau-de Gennes mean-field models for the nematic-isotropic transition. The implications of possible tetrahedratic order are also discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of such a magnetic-field induced transition in a thermotropic liquid crystal; the reasons for which this behavior is now attainable are discussed.
Format
Article
Publication Date
2008-12-12
Publication Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
101
Issue
24
Subject
Community
Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program
Comments
Copyright 2008 American Physical Society. Available on publisher's site at http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.247801.
Permalink https://oaks.kent.edu/cpippubs/53
Ostapenko, T., Wiant, D., Sprunt, S., Jakli, A., & Gleeson, J. (2008). Magnetic-Field Induced Isotropic to Nematic Liquid Crystal Phase Transition. Physical Review Letters. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/1202
Ostapenko, T., D. Wiant, Samuel Sprunt, Antal Jakli, and Jim Gleeson. 2008. “Magnetic-Field Induced Isotropic to Nematic Liquid Crystal Phase Transition”. Physical Review Letters. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/1202.
Ostapenko, T., D. Wiant, S. Sprunt, A. Jakli, and J. Gleeson. Magnetic-Field Induced Isotropic to Nematic Liquid Crystal Phase Transition. Physical Review Letters, 12 Dec. 2008, https://oaks.kent.edu/node/1202.