Simple Landau model of the smectic-A-isotropic phase transition

Authors
Mukherjee, PK Pleiner, H Brand, HR
Citation
Pk. Mukherjee et al., Simple Landau model of the smectic-A-isotropic phase transition, EUR PHY J E, 4(3), 2001, pp. 293-297
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
ISSN journal
12928941 → ACNP
Volume
4
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
293 - 297
Database
ISI
SICI code
1292-8941(200103)4:3<293:SLMOTS>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
A simple Landau-type free energy function is presented to describe the smec tic-A-isotropic phase transition. Varying the coupling between orientationa l and positional order parameters, a smectic-A-isotropic or a nematic-isotr opic phase transition occurs. Within this model the smectic-A-isotropic pha se transition is found to be always more strongly first order than the nema tic-isotropic phase transition. The theoretical results are found to be in good agreement with all published experimental results.