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Inclusion of Mass Density Fluctuations in the Landau-de Gennes Theory of Nematic-Isotropic Phase Transition

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Abstract

Experimental evidences have shown that mass density gradients couple energetically to the liquid crystal director. In this paper, we incorporate this mechanism into the Landau-de Gennes theory of nematic-isotropic transition. In conformity with empirical evidence, the extended theory enables us to explain the enhancement to the amplitude of the singular part of the specific heat above the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature TNI. It also permits us to obtain a correction term for the Kerr constant B in isotropic phase proportional to 1/(T − T∗)2, where T∗ is the virtual transition temperature. The curve B versus T thus corrected provides a very good fit to experimental data.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the support of CAPES (Brazilian Agency).

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  1. Unidade Acadêmica do Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Cento e Sessenta e Três, 300, 54518-430, Garapu, Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Carlindo Vitoriano

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Correspondence to Carlindo Vitoriano.

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Vitoriano, C. Inclusion of Mass Density Fluctuations in the Landau-de Gennes Theory of Nematic-Isotropic Phase Transition. Braz J Phys 50, 24–29 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13538-019-00725-x

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