Conditional distribution function approach to the theory of anchoring transitions

The interfacial structure in the nematic phase near a wall is studied by means of a method of conditional distribution functions. It was found that with decreasing strength of the wall anchoring potential, the theory predicts a first-order oblique to oblique anchoring transition observed experimentally by Ryschenkow and Kleman. In the case of increasing strength of the solid wall anchoring potential the model predicts homogeneous anchoring.