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Metallic Solids

Metallic Solids

Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and...

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Modeling smectic layers in confined geometries: order parameter and defects.

Mykhailo Y Pevnyi¹, Jonathan V Selinger¹, Timothy J Sluckin²

¹Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|October 15, 2014

Summary

We found issues with the standard complex order parameter for smectic-A liquid crystals. An alternative using real smectic density offers better modeling for nanoscale confinement applications.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Liquid Crystal Physics

Background:

The standard complex order parameter formalism for smectic-A (SmA) liquid crystals has limitations.
Accurate modeling of SmA liquid crystals is crucial for technological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify problems with the standard complex order parameter formalism for SmA liquid crystals.
To propose and evaluate an alternative description of smectic order.
To explore the application of this new approach in nanoscale confinement scenarios.

Main Methods:

Analysis of the standard complex order parameter formalism.
Development of an alternative approach based on real smectic density variation.
Numerical simulations to validate the proposed method for layer configuration and director field.

Main Results:

The standard complex order parameter formalism presents significant challenges for SmA liquid crystals.
The proposed real smectic density variation approach yields reasonable numerical results.
The new method accurately models smectic layer configuration and director fields in various geometries.

Conclusions:

The real smectic density variation offers a viable alternative to the complex order parameter for SmA liquid crystals.
This approach is suitable for modeling liquid crystals under nanoscale confinement.
The findings have implications for the technological applications of liquid crystals.