J. Stelzer et al., HOMEOTROPIC SURFACE ANCHORING OF A GAY-BERNE NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL, Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics, 55(6), 1997, pp. 7085-7089
The ordering of a nematic liquid crystal in the presence of a smooth s
urface is analyzed in detail. In particular, the force constants for h
omeotropic anchoring are estimated by a local density functional metho
d with data from molecular dynamics simulations. The system studied is
a model Gay-Berne nematic liquid crystal. For the molecule-surface in
teraction both an anisotropic and an isotropic one-particle potential
are taken. In both cases a surface-induced smectic A phase is being ob
served even though the phase is unstable in the bulk.