title: Statistical mechanics of bend flexoelectricity and the twist-bend phase in bent-core liquid crystals.
abstract: We develop a Landau theory for bend flexoelectricity in liquid crystals of bent-core molecules. In the nematic phase of the model, the bend flexoelectric coefficient increases as we reduce the temperature toward the nematic to polar phase transition. At this critical point, there is a second-order transition from high-temperature uniform nematic phase to low-temperature nonuniform polar phase composed of twist-bend or splay-bend deformations. To test the predictions of Landau theory, we perform Monte Carlo simulations to find the director and polarization configurations as functions of temperature, applied electric field, and interaction parameters.
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Shaikh M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shamid
authors.forename: Subas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhakal
authors.forename: Jonathan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Selinger
mesh_terms: D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000528:radiation effects; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000528:radiation effects; D019415:Torque