Liquid crystal phase behavior of hard oblate spherocylinders

Abstract

The liquid crystal phase diagram of the discotic hard spherocylinder fluid is investigated in Monte Carlo simulations. The study involved the development of an efficient algorithm to compute the shortest distance between two oblate spherocylinder particles. Molecular aspect ratios within L/D = 0.1–0.5 are considered. A rich set of hexatic columnar phases is found. The nematic phase becomes stable only for L/D = 0.1. Local domains of stacked particles are still observed in the nematic and isotropic phases of the fluid.