Non-linear dielectric effect in the isotropic phase of ferroelectric liquid crystals

We use a phenomenological model to find theoretically the non-linear dielectric effect (NDE) in the isotropic phase above the isotropic to chiral smectic-C (I-SmC^*) phase transition. We find an analytical expression for the NDE in the isotropic phase above the I-SmC^* phase transition. The temperature dependence of the NDE is presented in the isotropic phase of the I-SmC^* phase transition.     

Non-linear dielectric effect in the isotropic phase of antiferroelectric liquid crystals

We have theoretically studied the non-linear dielectric effect in the isotropic phase of antiferroelectric liquid crystals on the basis of phenomenological theory. We find an analytical expression for the non-linear dielectric effect in the isotropic phase of the transition. The temperature dependence of the non-linear dielectric effect is presented in the isotropic phase of the transition.     

Dielectric spectroscopy of the SmQ* phase

Liquid crystal possessing two biphenyl moieties in the molecular core and lateral chlorine substitution far from the chiral chain has been studied by dielectric spectroscopy. On cooling from the isotropic phase, the material possesses the frustrated smectic Q* (SmQ*) and SmC_A* phases. It has been confirmed by dielectric spectroscopy that the SmQ* phase can be related to the SmC_A* anti-ferroelectric phase. However, only one relaxation process has been observed in the SmQ* phase, while in the SmC_A*, two relaxations are clearly detectable. It seems that the mode found in the SmQ* can be connected with high-frequency anti-phase mode observed in the SmC_A* phase. Its relaxation frequency is similar to P_H relaxation frequency, but is weaker. The same relaxation has been observed even a few degrees above the SmQ*–Iso phase transition. Another explanation for the mode detected in SmQ* and isotropic phases can be molecular motions around short molecular axis.     

The evolution of the molecular relaxation parameters described by the Cole–Cole model at the isotropic-nematic phase transition*

This paper presents the dielectric properties of the isotropic liquid and nematic phase at the phase transition. One strong molecular relaxation is observed in both phases. It is interpreted as related to the relaxation around a short molecular axis, due to the fact that molecules possess a strong longitudinal dipole moment. In the isotropic liquid the relaxation is described by the Debye model, while after entering the nematic phase (at cooling) relaxation becomes described by the Cole–Cole model. The distribution parameter of the Cole–Cole model changes from 0.05 (10 degrees above the temperature of the Iso-N transition) to 0.09 (exactly at the phase transition Iso-N), and finally, it reaches 0.35 (10 degrees below the Iso-N transition). Additionally, we observe that ion contribution to the dielectric response is not influenced by the phase transition. All relaxation parameters are discussed within the context of the phase transition phenomena.     

A phenomenological theory of the isotropic to chiral smectic-C phase transition

In this paper we discuss the direct isotropic to chiral smectic-C phase transition on the basis of a phenomenological theory. The model free energy is written in terms of the coupled order parameters including the spontaneous polarization. We present a detailed analysis of the different phases that can occur and analyze the question under which conditions a direct isotropic to chiral smectic-C phase transition is possible when compared to other phase transitions. On the basis of this model the isotropic-smectic-C^* transition is always of first order. The theoretical predictions are compared with the available experimental results.-1     

Electro-optical Kerr effect in the isotropic phase of the two antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures

We have experimentally studied for the first time the electro-optical Kerr effect and the pre-transitional behavior in the isotropic phase of two antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures, W-232 and W-204D, composed of rod-like ester molecules exhibiting the direct smectic-A to isotropic (SmA-I) phase transition. The Kerr law has been confirmed for the two compounds and the variation of inverse Kerr constant with temperature above the smectic–isotropic transition temperatures were determined. Both the mixtures with very broad antiferroelectric phase around room temperature have similar sequence of the phases (i.e., Cr-SmC*A-SmC*-SmA-I). Although, the pre-transitional behavior is usually complex in the isotropic phase of the chiral smectic liquid crystal compounds, the investigated compounds showed a similar behavior compared to that of nematic–isotropic behavior.     

Does the characteristic value of the discontinuity of the isotropic-mesophase transition in n-cyanobiphenyls exist?

Results of the extended Landau-de Gennes model analysis and experimental studies of the isotropic-nematic (I-N) and isotropic-smectic-A (I-SmA) phase transitions in rod-like liquid crystalline n-alkylcyanobiphenyls are presented. Experiments were carried out as a function of temperature and pressure using the static dielectric permittivity and its 'nonlinear' (strong electric field related) counterpart-the low-frequency nonlinear dielectric effect. Precise estimations of the values of the discontinuity of the isotropic-mesophase transitions (ΔT) for nCB from n?=?3-14 have been obtained. It is suggested that for each nCB a unique, characteristic minimal value of ΔT, associated with the I-N-SmA triple point, exists. For 'shorter' nCBs it can be hidden in the negative pressures domain. The possibility of the extension of the 'melting curve' into the negative pressures region as well as the appearance of the 'melting inversion' at high enough pressures is indicated.     

Effect of electric field on the dielectric permittivity of betaine phosphite crystals in the paraelectric phase

Temperature dependences of the dielectric permittivity of betaine phosphite crystals are studied both without and under application of an electric bias. It is shown that, in view of the fact that the high-temperature improper ferroelastic (antiferrodistorsive) phase transition at T _c1=355 K is nearly tricritical, the nonlinear temperature dependence of inverse dielectric permittivity in the paraelectric phase and the effect of the field on the dielectric permittivity can be described within a phenomenological model containing two coupled (polar and nonpolar) order parameters with a negative coupling coefficient. An analysis of the model revealed that, in the case where two phase transitions, a nonpolar and a ferroelectric one, can occur in the crystal, all of its dielectric properties, including the polarization response in a field, can be described by one dimensionless parameter a. For the crystal under study, we have a=?2.5. This value of the parameter corresponds to a second-order ferroelectric transition far from the tricritical point, at which a=?1. It is shown that the polarization response in the paraelectric phase in an electric field calculated within this model differs radically from that in the ferroelectric phase-transition model for which the Curie-Weiss law holds in the paraelectric phase.     

Reexamining the phase diagram of the Gay—Berne fluid

This work reexamines and updates earlier investigations on the phase behaviour of the Gay-Berne liquid crystal model, concentrating on the effect of varying temperature. Constant volume and constant pressure Monte Carlo simulations are combined for systems consisting of N = 500 molecules along different isotherms over the reduced temperature range 0.60 ≤ T ≤ 1.25. As in previous simulation studies of the model, the study identifies nematic and smectic B phases on compressing the isotropic fluid, the particular phase sequence depending on temperature. The nematic phase is found to be stable with respect to the isotropic phase for reduced temperatures T ≥ 0.75. In the temperature range 0.75 ≤ T ≤ 1.25, the phase boundaries of the isotropic-nematic transition are obtained by computing the Helmholtz free energy of both phases from thermodynamic integration. From the simulation data, the relative volume change at the isotropic-nematic transition is about 2%, and this value appears to be rather insensitive to changes in temperature. On compressing the nematic phase, the Gay-Berne fluid undergoes a strong first-order transition to the smectic B phase. This transition is studied by using constant pressure simulation, and the coexistence properties are estimated from the limits of mechanical stability of the nematic phase. Larger relative volume changes are found at the transition than those suggested by previous studies, with typical values increasing up to 10.5% as the temperature is decreased. The results are consistent with the existence of strong coupling between nematic and smectic order parameters. For temperatures T ≤ 0.70 the nematic phase is no longer stable, and the phase sequence isotropic-smectic B is observed. Therefore, the Gay-Berne model exhibits an isotropic-nematic-smectic B triple point. Extrapolating the present simulation data, this triple point is located approximately at reduced temperature T_INB ? 0.70 and reduced pressure P_INB ? 1.825.     

Diffuse phase transition of Fe doped lead ytterbium tantalate ceramics

The effect of different concentration of Fe on the phase transition behavior of Lead ytterbium tantalate is investigated by dielectric and differential scanning calrimetry measurements. The samples are prepared through solid state reaction method and it has been found that the sintering temperature significantly lowered when the proportion of Pb(Fe_1/2Ta_1/2)O₃ increased. It has been observed that the doping in small amounts (0≤x≤0.2) of Fe could meliorate the dielectric and ferroelectric properties. The diffuseness in the mode of phase transition increases and the phase transition temperature decreases as a function of Fe content. It is revealed that the dielectric data and heat capacity data follow a similar trend in the variation of the mode of phase transition and phase transition temperatures. The phase transition temperature values obtained from the heat capacity measurement well agreed with the values obtained from dielectric measurement.     

External field induced tricritical phenomenon in the isotropicnematic phase transition of hard non-spherical particle systems

The effect of static external field is studied on the isotropic–nematic phase transition of a system of hard non-spherical particles (rods or platelets) with negative anisotropic polarizability (susceptabilities). On the basis of Onsager theory, the phase coexistence curve is calculated numerically without any approximation. It is found that a weakly ordered nematic phase (uniaxial planar) is in coexistence with a highly ordered biaxial nematic phase which ends at a tricritical point. In the limit of infinite field strength, the orientations of the particles are confined in a plane perpendicular to the field and continuous isotropic–nematic phase transition takes place.     

Conduction of the three-dimensional model of a composite with structural anisotropy

The electric conduction of the model of a structurally anisotropic composite that represents an isotropic matrix with disk-shaped inclusions (oblate spheroids) is analytically studied. The disks have the same orientation and their centers are randomly distributed in the composite volume. The cases of dielectric and ideally conducting inclusions are considered. The conduction of the model in a broad concentration range is described by the approximate effective medium method. Conduction in the critical region (in the vicinity of the metal–dielectric phase transition point) is studied using the similarity hypothesis.     

Coulomb-frustrated phase separation phase diagram in systems with short-range negative compressibility

Using numerical techniques and asymptotic expansions we obtain the phase diagram of a paradigmatic model of Coulomb-frustrated phase separation in systems with negative short-range compressibility. The transition from the homogeneous phase to the inhomogeneous phase is generically first order in isotropic three-dimensional systems except for a critical point. Close to the critical point, inhomogeneities are predicted to form a bcc lattice with subsequent transitions to a triangular lattice of rods and a layered structure. Inclusion of a strong anisotropy allows for second- and first-order transition lines joined by a tricritical point.     

Manifestation of a ferroelectric phase transition in ultrathin films of polyvinylidene fluoride

Temperature dependences of the dielectric properties of ultrathin polyvinylidene fluoride films prepared using the Langmuir-Blodgett method were studied by linear and nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy. It is shown that ultrathin Langmuir films of polyvinylidene fluoride exhibit a manifestation of a first-order ferroelectric phase transition, which can be assigned to the interaction between the spontaneous polarization and the surfaces bounding the film. As the film thickness increases, the effect of the surfaces decreases and the ferroelectric phase transition shifts to high temperatures to vanish altogether when the temperature region of the transition rises above the melting point.     

Ultrafast laser-induced phase transitions in amorphous GeSb films

Time-resolved measurements of the spectral dielectric function reveal new information about ultrafast phase transitions induced by femtosecond laser pulses in Sb-rich amorphous GeSb films. The excitation generates a nonthermal phase within 200 fs. The dielectric function of this phase differs from that of the crystalline phase, contrary to previous suggestions of a disorder-to-order transition. The observed dielectric function is close to that of the liquid phase, indicating an ultrafast transition from the amorphous phase to a different disordered state.     

On the mean-field theory of the metal-insulator phase transition

Two mean-field models describing the metal-insulator phase transition are studied. In the model due to Keldysh and Kopaev (1964) different effective masses in the valence and conduction bands are considered and in the model due to Mattis and Langer (1970) the exact s.c. and b.c.c. densities of states are taken into account. It is shown that these modifications do not change the qualitative features of the phase diagrams. In each case a special attention is paid to the domain of the degenerate semiconductor, which has been of primary interest in many attempts to explain conjectured enhancement of superconductivity in systems undergoing dielectric transition.     

Isotropic phase of nematics in porous media

We study the effect of random porous matrices on the isotropic-nematic phase transition. Sufficiently close to the cleaning temperature, both random field and thermal fluctuations are important as disordering agents. A novel random field fixed point of the renormalization group equation was found that controls the transition from isotropic to the replica symmetric phase. Explicit evaluation of the exponents in d = 6 ? ε dimensions yields to a dimensional reduction and three-exponent scaling.     

Effect of shape anisotropy on the phase diagram of the Gay-Berne fluid

We have used the density functional theory to study the effect of molecular elongation on the isotropic-nematic, isotropic-smectic A and nematic-smectic A phase transitions of a fluid of molecules interacting via the Gay-Berne intermolecular potential. We have considered a range of length-to-width parameter 3.0 ⩽ x₀ ⩽ 4.0 in steps of 0.2 at different densities and temperatures. Pair correlation functions needed as input information in density functional theory are calculated using the Percus-Yevick integral equation theory. Within the small range of elongation, the phase diagram shows significant changes. The fluid at low temperature is found to freeze directly from isotropic to smectic A phase for all the values of x₀ considered by us on increasing the density while the nematic phase stabilizes in between isotropic and smectic A phases only at high temperatures and densities. Both isotropic-nematic and nematic-smectic A transition density and pressure are found to decrease as we increase x₀. The phase diagram obtained is compared with computer simulation result of the same model potential and is found to be in good qualitative agreement.