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- Stott J.J. (x)
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Show moreIn this paper we develop a self-consistent model for the equilibrium statistics of nematic branched polymeric liquid crystals in the mean-field approximation. We have solved the resulting system of equations numerically and find a nematic-isotropic phase transition. We find that the order-disorder transition temperature scales as a function of the bond continuation probability, or equivalently the molecular weight, with an exponent that depends on the interaction potential. These results are compared with the experimentally observed behaviour. ©1999 Taylor & Francis Ltd.
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Show moreIn a previous article [Phys. Rev. E 60, 1799 (1999)], the authors considered a model Landau free energy that explained the ferriclinic phases of chiral smectic liquid crystals as a series of short period helical modulations. In this paper we begin with a physically more realistic, more microscopic interlayer free energy and show how our previous work can be derived using only simple short-ranged interactions. We then discuss what additional information this provides about the Landau coefficients used previously to construct the phase diagram for the heliclinic phases of chiral smectic liquid crystals. Finally, we investigate a means for explicitly including chirality in our model. Appropriate bibliographic citation and notice of the APS copyright must be included- "Stott J.J., Petschek R.G., Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics 60:0.25, 6826-6830 (1999). Copyright 1999 by the American Physical Society."
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Show moreBy considering short period helical planar modulations about the layer normal, we construct a model free energy for the ferriclinic phases observed in chiral smectic liquid crystals. We then use this free energy to construct the phase diagram for our model. The resulting phases are compared with the experimentally observed smectic-C* subphases (ferroclinic, antiferroclinic, and heliclinic). A strong coupling is found between the ferroclinic q=2Ï€/a and the heliclinic q=2Ï€/3a modes. This coupling was not considered in previous models. The resulting additional stability of this "locked in" phase is discussed. © 1999 The American Physical Society. Appropriate bibliographic citation and notice of the APS copyright must be included- "Stott J.J., Petschek R.G., Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics 60:2 B, 1799-1807 (1999). Copyright 1999 by the American Physical Society."
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