title: Observation of a possible tetrahedratic phase in a bent-core liquid crystal.
abstract: An experimental study of the heat capacity, mass density, magnetic-field-induced optical birefringence, linewidth and intensity of scattered light, and the viscosities associated with nematic order parameter fluctuations and fluid flow has been performed on an achiral bent-core liquid crystal above its clearing point temperature. The measurements reveal a transition between two optically isotropic phases that is consistent with recent theoretical predictions of a "tetrahedratic" form of orientational order.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiant
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neupane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Gleeson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sprunt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jákli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannacchione