Field effects and the critical end point in polymeric nematics

We calculate the effect of an external field on nematic polymer liquid crystals with polarizable dipoles along the chain backbone. In close analogy to conventional nematics we find a line of first-order transitions from nematic to paranematic as the field is increased, culminating in a critical end point as the critical field is attained. This critical point is related to those found by other authors. The results hold for electric and magnetic fields, the latter coupling to diamagnetic anisotropy. The electric case will be complicated if permanent dipoles are present. We demonstrate the equivalence of these results to the Landau approach in a field. Shortcomings in previous work on nematic polymers in fields are analysed.