Coarse-graining elastic theory for twist-bend nematic phases

By use of a standard theoretical method, we arrive at a coarse-grained elastic energy density for twist-bend nematic (N tb ) phases which features two fields, a director t designating the outer macroscopic optic axis and a variable cone angle reflecting the inner heliconical microscopic structure. T...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Liquid crystals 2017-01, Vol.44 (1), p.31-44
Main Authors: Shiyanovskii, S. V., Simonário, P. S., Virga, E. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Boundary conditions
coarse-grained elastic energy
coarse-graining theory
Coupling
Crystallography
elastic theory
field-induced transition
Liquid crystals
Nematic
Order parameters
Phase transitions
Phases
Scalars
Theory
Twist-bend nematic phases
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Summary:By use of a standard theoretical method, we arrive at a coarse-grained elastic energy density for twist-bend nematic (N tb ) phases which features two fields, a director t designating the outer macroscopic optic axis and a variable cone angle reflecting the inner heliconical microscopic structure. The theory describes the N tb phase through a nematic-like energy with an extra scalar order parameter. The coupling with an external field is similarly described at the same coarse-grained level and a field-induced transition to the ordinary nematic phase is also predicted to take place in a confined Frederiks cell, in the simplified setting where natural boundary conditions are prescribed on the cell's plates.
ISSN:0267-8292
1366-5855
DOI:10.1080/02678292.2016.1241434