Fluctuations of orientational order in a uniaxial nematic liquid crystal with biaxial molecules and its response to an external field

Homogeneous thermal fluctuations of the orientational order parameters S and G of biaxial molecules in a uniaxial nematic liquid crystal are investigated in the framework of the molecular-statistical theory. It is demonstrated that the molecular biaxiality significantly affects the order parameters S and G, their temperature dependences in the nematic phase, the amplitude and the temperature dependence of the order parameter fluctuations in the nematic and isotropic phases, and the character of the transition from the nematic phase to the isotropic liquid phase. It is established that the fluctuations of the parameters S and G in the nematic phase are related to the temperature dependences of S and G and the susceptibilities χ_S and χ_G of the nematic liquid crystal to external fields, which leads to a change in the parameters S and G at a fixed director orientation. Explanations are offered for the known experimental data on the orientational ordering of biaxial molecules under the action of external fields in the isotropic phase of nematic liquid crystals.     

Anisotropy of the local field in anisotropic films of conjugated polymers

Using the data on dispersion of refractive indices in the visible region, the experimental values of the components L _j of the Lorentz tensor have been obtained for uniaxial (crystalline, oriented on a substrate, and stretched) films of conjugated polymers from nanometer to micrometer thicknesses. The dependence of the components L _j on the axial and planar orientations of macromolecules with respect to the optical axis of the film, technology of fabricating the films, and chemical structure of macromolecules has been elucidated. The correlation between the components L _j and the measured parameter η has been determined and the analytical dependence L _j (η) for films with both types of macromolecular orientation has been established. In the visible region (0 ≤ η ≤ 0.5), the presence of one point (η = 1/3) of isotropization of the tensor L and three points (η = 0, 1/3, and 0.5) of isotropization of the local field tensor f has been revealed. The point η = 1/3 of isotropization of the tensors L and f has been determined. A comparison has been made between the values of L _j (η) with predictions of known models of the local field for conjugated polymers.     

Decomposition of pentaammineaquacobalt(III) perchlorate under laser radiation action

Photolytic decomposition of the complex [Co(NH₃)₅(H₂O)](ClO₄)₃ under the action of a laser with a wavelength of 355 nm, which is resonant in energy to the energy of the (¹ A _1g → ¹ T _2g ) d–d transition, was studied. Decomposition of the complex is accompanied by a release of ammonia with its subsequent oxidation to nitrogen oxides and by partial cobalt reduction with the formation of the mixed cobalt(II, III) oxide Co₃O₄.     

Influence of the structure of organic peroxides on the efficiency of modification of SKI-3 rubber with dicarboxylic acid anhydrides in solution

The efficiency of modification of synthetic isoprene rubber with maleic and endic anhydrides in solution was examined as influenced by a number of initiator systems: dicumyl, dibenzoyl, and dilauroyl peroxides.     

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Solid Fuels Based on High Enthalpy Dispersants for Rocket Ramjet Engines

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - The possibility of replacing the currently widely used ammonium perchlorate as an oxidizing agent (dispersant) in the composition of solid boron-containing...     

Effective refractive index of a quasi-two-dimensional polydomain film of a conjugated polymer

The relation between the effective ordinary refractive index n* = (n _o n _e )^1/2 of a quasi-two-dimensional polydomain uniaxial film of a conjugated polymer F8BT in the visible transparency region and the refractive indices (n _o,e ) of uniaxial domains with the optical axes randomly oriented in the plane of the film has been confirmed experimentally. The permissible interval of variations in n* has been established and a strong spectral dispersion of this interval near the long-wavelength electronic absorption band of the film has been demonstrated.     

Position of polarized impurity absorption bands and orientation statistics of impurity molecules in uniaxial polymer films

The features of a static shift and splitting of polarized electronic absorption bands of uniaxial impurity molecules are studied in uniaxial polymer films. The specific properties of the orientation statistics of impurity molecules are found that are typical for stretched polymer films and result in the qualitative difference of the dependence of positions and splitting of polarized absorption bands on the order parameter of the impurity molecules compared to impurity nematic liquid crystals.     

Long-range orientational order,local-field anisotropy,and mean molecular polarizability in liquid crystals

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - The problems on the relation of the mean effective molecular polarizability $ \bar \gamma $ to the long-range orientational order of molecules...     

New features of a smectic-A-crystal-B phase transition in a homologous series of liquid crystals

The components L _j of the Lorentz tensor and the polarizability density of molecules G in the smectic-A and crystalline-B phases have been determined for homologues of the series of alkyl-p-(4-alkoxybenzylideneamino-)cinnamates. The quantity L _j (G) in both phases is a linear (quadratic) function of the orientational order parameter of molecules S, which is invariant (noninvariant) with respect to the A-B transition, which is manifested in the form of jumps δL _j and δG and enhancement of the G(S) dependence. An increase in the length of terminal molecular chains and weakening of interlayer correlation of molecules are accompanied by strengthening of the A-B transition of the first order and G(S) dependences in both phases together with an increase in δL _j and δG. Change δG and dependence G(S) in the B phase are related to change in the conformation (flattening) of aromatic molecular cores.     

Orientational order and evolution of the properties of biomolecules in anisotropic media

Experimental values of the Lorentz tensor components and the local field of a light wave have been obtained for anisotropic films of polypeptide and DNA. These data indicate an increase in the mean value and anisotropy of the polarizability of biomolecules with respect to an isotropic solution. These changes in the polarizability as an indicator of the response of biomolecules to external actions, as well as their chemical and biological activity, specify the direction of the evolution of the properties of biomolecules in orientationally ordered media.