title: Nematic biaxiality in a bent-core material.
abstract: The results of a recent investigation of the nematic biaxiality in a bent-core mesogen (A131) are in apparent disagreement with earlier claims. Samples of mesogen A131 used in the two studies were investigated with polarized optical microscopy, conoscopy, carbon-13 NMR, and crossover frequency measurements. The results demonstrate that textural changes associated with the growth of biaxial nematic order appear at ∼149  °C. The Maltese cross observed in the conoscopic figure gradually splits into two isogyres at lower temperatures indicating phase biaxiality. Presence of the uniaxial to biaxial nematic phase transition is further confirmed by temperature trends of local order parameters based on 13C chemical shifts in NMR experiments. Frequency switching measurements also clearly reveal a transition at 149  °C. Differences between the two reports appear to be related to the presence of solvent, impurities, and/or adsorbed gases in samples of A131 used in the study of Van Le [Phys. Rev. E 79, 030701 (2009)].
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Hyung Guen
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Shin-Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ronald Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Kattera A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srinivasarao
authors.forename: Satyendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar