Coupling between the nematic/isotropic transition and a thickness transition: A theoretical approach

In this letter, we develop a theoretical model of the effect of a free surface on the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in a confined geometry. Simply by coupling a bulk first-order phase transition with a thickness-dependent elastic distortion field in a Landau-like description, the model predi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Europhysics letters 2003-05, Vol.62 (4), p.526-532
Main Authors: Effenterre, D. van, Valignat, M. P, Roux, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
61.30.Pq
64.70.Md
68.60.-p
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Specific phase transitions
Transitions in liquid crystals
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Summary:In this letter, we develop a theoretical model of the effect of a free surface on the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in a confined geometry. Simply by coupling a bulk first-order phase transition with a thickness-dependent elastic distortion field in a Landau-like description, the model predicts a coexistence at equilibrium between the isotropic and the nematic phases at two different thicknesses. A phase diagram is constructed in the temperature-thickness plane and a comparison is given with experimental results obtained on thin films (van Effenterre D., Ober R., Valignat M. P. and Cazabat A. M., Phys. Rev. Lett. 87(2001) 125701).
ISSN:0295-5075
1286-4854
DOI:10.1209/epl/i2003-00375-2