Abstract
Experimental evidences have shown that mass density gradients couple energetically to the liquid crystal director. In this paper, we incorporate this mechanism into the Landau-de Gennes theory of nematic-isotropic transition. In conformity with empirical evidence, the extended theory enables us to explain the enhancement to the amplitude of the singular part of the specific heat above the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature TNI. It also permits us to obtain a correction term for the Kerr constant B in isotropic phase proportional to 1/(T − T∗)2, where T∗ is the virtual transition temperature. The curve B versus T thus corrected provides a very good fit to experimental data.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
