Abstract
A phase-sensitive, differential, light-scattering method is used to measure the shape of correlated regions in the isotropic phase of nematics. In MBBA (-methoxybenzylidene -butylaniline) these regions are elongated along the molecular-axis direction and the critical behavior is close to that predicted by mean-field theory; de Gennes's parameter is positive. In the isotropic phase of the smectic OBBA (-octoxybenzylidene -butylaniline) the correlated regions are flat and cannot be described by a constant .
- Received 6 October 1975
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.35.1711
©1975 American Physical Society