title: Escape configuration lattice near the nematic-isotropic transition: tilt analogue of blue phases.
abstract: We predict the possible existence of a new phase of liquid crystals near the nematic-isotropic transition. This phase is an achiral, tilt analogue of the blue phase and is composed of a lattice of double-tilt, escape-configuration cylinders. We discuss the structure and the stability of this phase and provide an estimate of the lattice parameter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA. bchakrab@fas.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Buddhapriya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.forename: Yashodhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatwalne
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Madhusudana
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D044367:Phase Transition