Directional energy transfer in columnar liquid crystals: A computer-simulation study

We have investigated energy transfer between solute molecules in systems of discotic Gay-Berne molecules forming columnar as well as isotropic and nematic mesophases, employing computer experiments that combine Monte Carlo simulations of the phase structure and a stochastic approach to the transfer. The time-dependent excitation probability and the mean square displacement of the initial excitation show an enhanced energy transfer in the columnar phase, with a faster energy transfer along the column axis.