Influence of pressure on the electric-field-induced phase transitions in liquid crystals

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2006 May;20(1):63-9. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2005-10121-8. Epub 2006 May 8.

Abstract

Within the framework of Landau-de-Gennes formulation, we analyse the effect of pressure on electric-field-induced phase transitions in a liquid crystal which shows spontaneously an isotropic-smectic A transition. Inferring from the experimental pressure dependences on the layer spacing in smectic A phase, as well as the nematic-smectic A metastable temperature T*(AN), we incorporated the pressure dependence in the free energy through (the surface energy term) and the coupling between the quadrupolar nematic ordering Q(ij) and the smectic order parameter psi. From the S-T phase diagram, we found that the stability of field-induced nematic phase increases with pressure, whereas the discontinuity of the transition decreases. Also, the region where paranematic phase transits directly to smectic A phase increases with pressure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electricity*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Polymers
  • liquid crystal polymer