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Related Experiment Videos

Disclination loop behavior near the nematic-isotropic transition.

N V Priezjev1, R A Pelcovits

  • 1Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|October 3, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Disclination loops near the nematic-isotropic transition exhibit a power-law decay, indicating a "blowout" at the transition. Large loops carry monopole charge, while smaller ones do not, revealing similarities in topological defects across models.

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Cluster Monte Carlo simulations of the nematic-isotropic transition.

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2001

Area of Science:

  • Condensed matter physics
  • Liquid crystal theory

Background:

  • The nematic-isotropic transition is a critical phenomenon in liquid crystals.
  • Topological defects like disclinations play a crucial role in phase transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavior of disclination loops near the first-order nematic-isotropic transition.
  • To analyze the distribution and properties of disclination loops in the Lebwohl-Lasher and related models.

Main Methods:

  • Simulations of the Lebwohl-Lasher model and a modified version.
  • Calculation of transition temperatures using free energy and disclination line segment distribution.
  • Analysis of the disclination loop perimeter distribution function D(p).
  • Measurement of disclination line tension and monopole charge.

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Main Results:

  • Two independent measures of transition temperature yield identical values.
  • Disclination loop distribution D(p) exhibits power-law decay near the transition, suggesting a loop
  • blowout.
  • A measurable jump in disclination line tension is observed in a modified model with a strongly first-order transition.
  • Large disclination loops carry monopole charge, unlike smaller isolated loops.

Conclusions:

  • The behavior of disclination loops near the nematic-isotropic transition is characterized by a power-law decay and a
  • blowout.
  • Monopole charge is associated with larger disclination loops.
  • Topological defects exhibit similar characteristics in both the standard and modified Lebwohl-Lasher models.