The Onsager theory of the isotropic–nematic liquid crystal transition: Incorporation of the higher virial coefficients

Abstract

In the Onsager theory for the phase transition from the isotropic fluid to the nematic liquid crystal phase, the Helmholtz free energy of a fluid of hard convex bodies (HCBs) is expressed as the sum of an entropy of a mixing-like term and an energy-like term (from the interaction of the HCBs). Whereas the Onsager theory expresses the interaction term in a virial expansion and determines the consequences of B2 alone, here we extend that treatment to incorporate B3 (with its attendant dependence on the mutual orientation of three HCBs). For HCBs (and specifically for D∞h ellipsoids) with large aspect ratios (5:1 or greater), the incorporation of B2 and B3 suffices to predict the variation of the order parameter 〈P2[cos(θ)]〉 with density in accord with the Monte Carlo (MC) results of Allen and Wilson. As the aspect ratio decreases (from 5:1) to more spherical molecules (say 3:1), virial coefficients of higher order than B3 contribute to the interaction term and their effect is represented in part by the y-expansion (or resummation) theory proposed by Barboy and Gelbart. In this y-expansion–third virial-Onsager theory, the predicted transition densities are in accord with the MC values of Frenkel and Mulder for prolate ellipsoids. Neither the y expansion nor the direct B2 and B3 theories find the phase diagram (i.e., transition density and order parameter regarded as a function of aspect ratio) to be symmetric for prolate and oblate ellipsoids. The dependence of B3 on the mutual orientation of the ellipsoids is also discussed and previous work is also addressed.