title: Isotropic-nematic transition in liquid-crystalline elastomers.
abstract: In liquid-crystalline elastomers, the nematic order parameter and the induced strain vary smoothly across the isotropic-nematic transition, without the expected first-order discontinuity. To investigate this smooth variation, we measure the strain as a function of temperature over a range of applied stress, for elastomers cross-linked in the nematic and isotropic phases, and analyze the results using a variation on Landau theory. This analysis shows that the smooth variation arises from quenched disorder in the elastomer, combined with the effects of applied stress and internal stress.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6900, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Selinger
authors.forename: Hong G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ratna