Exact equations of state for nematics

De Matteis, G., Giglio, F. and Moro, A. (2018) Exact equations of state for nematics. Annals of Physics, 396, pp. 386-396. (doi: 10.1016/j.aop.2018.07.016)

Abstract

We propose a novel approach to the solution of nematic Liquid Crystal models based on the derivation of a system of nonlinear wave equations for order parameters such that the occurrence of uniaxial and biaxial phase transitions can be interpreted as the propagation of a two-dimensional shock wave in the space of thermodynamic parameters. We obtain the exact equations of state for an integrable model of biaxial nematic liquid crystals and show that the classical transition from isotropic to uniaxial phase in absence of external fields is the result of a van der Waals type phase transition, where the jump in the order parameters is a classical shock generated from a gradient catastrophe at a non-zero isotropic field. The study of the equations of state provides the first analytical description of the rich structure of nematics phase diagrams in presence of external fields.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Giglio, Dr Francesco
• Authors: De Matteis, G., Giglio, F., and Moro, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
• Journal Name: Annals of Physics
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0003-4916
• ISSN (Online): 1096-035X
• Published Online: 21 July 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc.
• First Published: First published in Annals of Physics 396:386-396
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher