Light scattering near the nematic--smectic-A liquid-crystal phase transition

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.38.3702· OSTI ID:7089253

Lewis, M E; Khan, I; Vithana, H; Baldwin, A; Johnson, D L; Neubert, M E

We report the results of light scattering on liquid-crystal materials near the nematic--smectic-A phase transition. Measurements were made both in the nematic and smectic-A phases. The critical exponents for the twist elastic coefficient (K/sub 2/) and the layer dilation elastic coefficient (B-bar) were measured and appear to scale, within experimental uncertainty, as predicted by the de Gennes model. The exponents for these relatively wider nematic range materials are somewhat larger than those found in most previous light scattering studies, indicating somewhat better agreement with the theoretically predicted values for the isotropic 3D XY model, though still considerably smaller.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242
• OSTI ID: 7089253
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 38:7; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602* -- Other Materials-- Structure & Phase Studies
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
CRYSTAL-PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
CRYSTALS
ELASTICITY
FLUIDS
LIGHT SCATTERING
LIQUID CRYSTALS
LIQUIDS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
ORDER PARAMETERS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROBES
SCATTERING
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE