title: Magnetic-field induced isotropic to nematic liquid crystal phase transition.
abstract: We report on measurements of magnetic-field induced nematic order in the bent-core liquid crystal 4-chlororesorcinol bis[4-(4-n-dodecyloxybenzoyloxy) benzoate]. Using the 31 T solenoid at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, we have observed, at temperatures less than 1 degrees above the clearing point, a first-order transition to the nematic phase. The critical magnetic field at which this occurs increases with temperature. We discuss these results within the context of both Maier-Saupe and Landau-de Gennes mean-field models for the nematic-isotropic transition. The implications of possible tetrahedratic order are also discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of such a magnetic-field induced transition in a thermotropic liquid crystal; the reasons for which this behavior is now attainable are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ostapenko
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wiant
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sprunt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jákli
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Gleeson
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D003460:Crystallization; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000737:chemistry; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D012118:Resorcinols