Pretransitional Phenomena in the Isotropic Phase of a Nematic Liquid Crystal

T. W. Stinson, III and J. D. Litster
Phys. Rev. Lett. 25, 503 – Published 24 August 1970
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Abstract

We have observed a divergence of the magnetic birefringence, and a critical increase and slowing of the fluctuations in order in the isotropic phase of a nematic liquid crystal. Our results are quantitatively described by a mean-field model except for a critical region close to the ordering temperature where the fluctuations are so large that the meanfield approximation fails.

  • Received 7 July 1970

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.25.503

©1970 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. W. Stinson, III* and J. D. Litster

  • Physics Department and Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

  • *National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellow.

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Vol. 25, Iss. 8 — 24 August 1970

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