Computational molecular field theory for nematic liquid crystals
| Autor: | Cody D. Schimming, Jorge Viñals |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Physics
Condensed matter physics FOS: Physical sciences Second moment of area Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter Disclination 01 natural sciences 010305 fluids & plasmas Topological defect Condensed Matter::Soft Condensed Matter Liquid crystal Phase (matter) 0103 physical sciences Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) Field theory (psychology) Tensor 010306 general physics Eigenvalues and eigenvectors |
| Zdroj: | Physical review. E. 101(3-1) |
| ISSN: | 2470-0053 |
| Popis: | Nematic liquid crystals exhibit configurations in which the underlying ordering changes markedly on macroscopic length scales. Such structures include topological defects in the nematic phase and tactoids within nematic-isotropic coexistence. We discuss a computational study of inhomogeneous configurations that is based on a field theory extension of the Maier-Saupe molecular model of a uniaxial, nematic liquid crystal. A tensor order parameter is defined as the second moment of an orientational probability distribution, leading to a free energy that is not convex within the isotropic-nematic coexistence region, and that goes to infinity if the eigenvalues of the order parameter become non-physical. Computations of the spatial profile of the order parameter are presented for an isotropic-nematic interface in one dimension, a tactoid in two dimensions, and a nematic disclination in two dimensions. We compare our results to those given by the Landau de-Gennes free energy for the same configurations and discuss the advantages of such a model over the latter. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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