Liquid crystal films on curved surfaces: An entropic sampling study

Details Liquid crystal films on curved surfaces: An entropic sampling study Liquid crystal films on curved surfaces: An entropic sampling study

2010-10-15

arxiv.org/abs/1010.3111v1

Physics

Condensed Matter

Soft Condensed Matter

14 pages, 5 figures

Scientific paper

The confining effect of a spherical substrate inducing anchoring (normal to the surface) of rod-like liquid crystal molecules contained in a thin film spread over it has been investigated with regard to possible changes in the nature of the isotropic-to-nematic phase transition as the sample is cooled. The focus of these Monte Carlo simulations is to study the competing effects of the homeotropic anchoring due to the surface inducing orientational ordering in the radial direction and the inherent uniaxial order promoted by the intermolecular interactions. By adopting entropic sampling procedure, we could investigate this transition with a high temperature precision, and we studied the effect of the surface anchoring strength on the phase diagram for a specifically chosen geometry. We find that there is a threshold anchoring strength of the surface below which uniaxial nematic phase results, and above which the isotropic fluid cools to a radially ordered nematic phase, besides of course expected changes in the phase transition temperature with the anchoring strength. In the vicinity of the threshold anchoring strength we observe a bistable region between these two structures, clearly brought out by the characteristics of the corresponding microstates constituting the entropic ensemble.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Liquid crystal films on curved surfaces: An entropic sampling study 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 Liquid crystal films on curved surfaces: An entropic sampling study, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Liquid crystal films on curved surfaces: An entropic sampling study will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-203671