A simple model for biaxial smectic-A phases
By: Paulo Teixeira
From: CFTC
At: Complexo Interdisciplinar, Anfiteatro
[2007-01-17]
We have generalised the McMillan theory of liquid crystalline smectic order in uniaxial particle fluids to biaxial particles. Upon varying the control parameter, a uniaxial nematic phase may: (i) order biaxially first, then smectically; (ii) order smectically first, then biaxially; (iii) simultaneously order biaxially and smectically. We investigate, in the limit of complete orientational order of the molecular major axes, which of these scenarios are realised for a simple model of particles with the symmetry of rectangular parallelepipeds. We also present a generic variational derivation of the theory based on the identification of the dominant order parameters for the most ordered phase.