Orientational order and phase transitions in columnar liquid crystals

Y. F. Sun and J. Swift
Phys. Rev. A 33, 2735 – Published 1 April 1986
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Abstract

An orientational order mechanism, which may lead to a symmetry change from a higher-temperature hexagonal columnar phase to lower-symmetry phases with two-dimensional rectangular symmetry, is considered. A tensor density function is invoked to describe the symmetry change through the phase transition. For a transition corresponding to a symmetry breaking in the plane perpendicular to the column axes, the molecular orientation in the plane at the low-temperature phase is determined. Transitions in which there is a symmetry breaking out of the plane are briefly discussed.

  • Received 31 July 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.33.2735

©1986 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Y. F. Sun and J. Swift

  • Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712

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Issue

Vol. 33, Iss. 4 — April 1986

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