Landau model of the direct isotropic to smectic-C*A phase transition in antiferroelectric liquid crystals.
An orientational order parameter is proposed for the isotropic to smectic C*A phase transition in antiferroelectric liquid crystals. A phenomenological theory is developed to describe the direct isotropic to smectic-C*A phase transition on the basis of a free energy expansion. The free energy is written in terms of the coupled order parameters including the antipolar correlations. We present a detailed analysis of the different phases that can occur and analyze the question: under which conditions a direct isotropic to smectic-C*A phase transition is possible when compared to other phase transitions? The theoretical results are compared with experimental results.
Mukherjee
Prabir K
PK
Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Giesselmann
Frank
F