Molecular theory of the tilting transition in smectic liquid crystals with weak layer contraction and diffused cone orientational distribution

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Osipov, Mikhail and Pajak, Grzegorz (2012) Molecular theory of the tilting transition in smectic liquid crystals with weak layer contraction and diffused cone orientational distribution. Physical Review E: Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, 85 (121701). 021701. ISSN 2470-0053 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.85.021701)

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Abstract

A molecular field theory of the smectic-A−smectic-C transition has been developed for smectics with a diffused cone orientational distribution of molecules (volcano-like distribution function) in the smectic-A phase and anomalously weak layer contraction in the smectic-C phase. Orientational order parameters and smectic layer spacing have been calculated numerically as functions of temperature and compared with the results obtained using a model with a standard Maier-Saupe–type distribution function that has been considered before. A molecular theory of the electroclinic effect in chiral smectics has also been developed using the recently proposed simple biaxial interaction potential. A comparison has been made between the absolute values and temperature variations of the electroclinic coefficient obtained using the volcano model, the model with Maier-Saupe–type distribution, and the orthodox cone model proposed by de Vries. It has been shown that the model with a conventional “sugar loaf” type orientational distribution function in the smectic-A phase is sufficient to describe the main properties of smectics with anomalously weak layer contraction.

ORCID iDs

Osipov, Mikhail ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1836-1854 and Pajak, Grzegorz;
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