title: Phenomenological theory of the direct isotropic to hexatic-B phase transition.
abstract: Monte Carlo simulation studies have demonstrated the possibility of the first order isotropic to smectic-B phase transition. We present a mean-field description of the direct isotropic to hexatic-B phase transition. We analyze the question under which conditions a direct isotropic to hexatic-B phase transition is possible when compared to other phase transitions. Within this model the direct isotropic to hexatic-B phase transition is found to be always strongly first order than the isotropic to nematic and isotropic to smectic-A phase transitions. The presented analysis is in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulation studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Surendranath College, 24/2 M. G. Road, Kolkata-700 009, India.
authors.forename: Asok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Prabir K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mukherjee