Macroscopic dynamics of polar nematic liquid crystals

We present the macroscopic equations for polar nematic liquid crystals. We consider the case where one has both, the usual nematic director, ˆn, characterizing quadrupolar order as well as the macroscopic polarization, P, representing polar order, but where their directions coincide and are rigidly...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brand, Helmut R. (Author) , Pleiner, Harald (Author) , Ziebert, Falko (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 30 August 2006
In: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Year: 2006, Volume: 74, Issue: 2, Pages: 1-7
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.74.021713
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.021713
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.021713
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Author Notes:Helmut R. Brand, Harald Pleiner, Falko Ziebert
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Summary:We present the macroscopic equations for polar nematic liquid crystals. We consider the case where one has both, the usual nematic director, ˆn, characterizing quadrupolar order as well as the macroscopic polarization, P, representing polar order, but where their directions coincide and are rigidly coupled. In this case one has to choose P as the independent macroscopic variable. Such equations are expected to be relevant in connection with nematic phases with unusual properties found recently in compounds composed of banana-shaped molecules. Among the effects predicted, which are absent in conventional nematic liquid crystals showing only quadrupolar order, are pyro-electricity and its analogs for density and for concentration in mixtures as well as a flow alignment behavior, which is more complex than in usual low molecular weight nematics. We also discuss the formation of defect structures expected in such systems.
Item Description:Gesehen am 21.09.2022
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.74.021713