Corresponding states of nematic birefringence: an order parameter universality |
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Authors: | M Simões D S Simeão A de Campos |
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Institution: | Departamento de Física , Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Campus Universitário , Londrina, Paraná, 86051-990, Brazil |
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Abstract: | In this work, experimental birefringence data of several nematic liquid crystals, which share the presence of a nematic–isotropic and a nematic–crystalline phase transition, are used to show that the birefringence presents a universal behaviour which encompasses the entire range of the nematic phase. The meaning and consequences of such behaviour are discussed; as the order parameter is proportional to the birefringence, this result implies that the order parameter has an extended universal profile, similar to a corresponding state law, which is independent of the liquid crystal compound and becomes determined once the temperature interval of the existence of the nematic compounds is obtained. |
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