Abstract
The gap exponent for the isotropic-nematic phase transition in MBBA (N-[-methoxybenzylidine]--butylaniline) has been determined from measurements of the induced birefringence in very strong magnetic fields. The experimental value, , is consistent with the tricritical exponent, , but is clearly inconsistent with the exponent predicted by the mean-field theory. It is also shown that some of the observed effects are more than two orders of magnitude larger than the values predicted by the mean-field theory.
- Received 11 December 1978
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.42.722
©1979 American Physical Society