Chiral Fluctuations and Structures

Details Chiral Fluctuations and Structures Chiral Fluctuations and Structures

1995-12-23

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9512163v2

Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 288 (1996) 15

Physics

Condensed Matter

10 pages. Requires no macros. 2 figures uufiled. Replacement corrects macro problems. To be presented at the Chandrasekhar Cel

Scientific paper

Chiral molecules form a number of non-chiral structures, the simplest being an isotropic fluid phase. In a mesophase of achiral molecules the fluctuations will on average be achiral as well: left-handed twists and right-handed twists will occur with the same probability. In a system composed of chiral molecules, however, the fluctuations will be biased in one direction or the other, and there will be optical effects such as a non-zero fluctuation induced rotary power {\sl in addition} to the molecular rotary power of the individual molecules. We discuss this effect in a number of contexts, including lyotropic lamellar phases. When the tendency to twist is strong enough or the line energy of having an exposed edge is small enough, a new, defect riddled ground state of a lyotropic lamella, akin to the Renn-Lubensky twist-grain-boundary phase of thermotropic smectics, can occur.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Chiral Fluctuations and Structures does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Chiral Fluctuations and Structures, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chiral Fluctuations and Structures will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-273283