Structure, elasticity and phase transitions in liquid crystals with deformations

Abstract

ABSTRACTA molecular-statistical theory describing the nematic liquid crystals (LCs) with spherical inclusions (or point defects) is proposed. At given size of inclusions and nematic order parameters at the surfaces of inclusions (zero in the case of point defects) and far from inclusions (where the nematic LC is almost uniform), the distribution of nematic order parameters in the bulk of LC with inclusions was found to be fully determined by the elastic constants of LC. We have found and explained the two-step heat-driven transformation from the nematic phase into the isotropic phase, with the intermediate phase in between. The nematic order parameters and the elastic constants are evaluated in the framework of a unified approach based on the features of pair interaction potentials of the individual LC molecules. It is shown that, in the case of K33 < K11, the point defects should destroy the conventional nematic phase.