Abstract

The frustrated spin-gas model with dipolar, van der Waals, and benzene-ring steric interactions is studied by Monte Carlo. Reentrant phase diagrams are obtained, with the sequence nematic-smectic Ad-nematic-smectic A1-smectic C. The reentrance mechanism is in terms of interpenetrating order and disorder. Layer tilting is found to be due to permeation-rotation lock-in. The smectic A1 and C phases occur in two versions, one pointing to in-plane domain formation. The phase diagrams are obtained by adapting the Lindemann melting criterion. Layer thicknesses, tilts, specific heats, and dimer concentrations are evaluated. The model explains three types of smectic C phases distinguished by tilt saturation. Results qualitatively agree with experiments.

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