Shear-induced melting of smectic-A liquid crystals

Citation
Nj. Mottram et al., Shear-induced melting of smectic-A liquid crystals, PHYS REV E, 62(4), 2000, pp. 5064-5080
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW E
ISSN journal
1063651X → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Part
A
Pages
5064 - 5080
Database
ISI
SICI code
1063-651X(200010)62:4<5064:SMOSLC>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
A numerical and analytical analysis of shear-induced melting in smectic-A l iquid crystals is presented. Based on a Landau expansion of the complex sme ctic order parameter, equations governing the phase and amplitude of the lo cal density modulation are found, Numerically solving these equations indic ates that for a range of parameter values a first-order transition, from a shear-stressed to a more relaxed state, is periodically encountered as the total shear is increased. Suitable approximations allow the analytic determ ination of certain characteristics of this first-order transition.