Computer simulation of a lattice model of nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

A lattice version of the Maier-Saupe model of anematic liquid crystal is investigated with the help of the Stochastic Models (SM) method which is an approximate computer simulation technique different from the usual Metropolis Monte Carlo method. The model consists of red-like molecules which are restricted to be on a simple cubic lattice. The interaction energy E k,l = − e( 3 2 cos 2 θ k,l − 1 2 ) is only between nearest neighbors molecules. We find a first order phase transition at e/k B T = 0.90+- 0.003 with latent heat 0.12 ± 0.04 and discontinuity in the order parameter 0.27 ± 0.04. These results are very close to Lebwohl and Lasher's results, who first studied this model using the Metropolis Monte Carlo method.