Modeling the isotropic/smectic-C tilted lamellar liquid crystalline transition

Abstract

Extensions of a previously presented Landau-de Gennes type liquid crystalline phase transition model for the direct isotropic/smectic-A (lamellar) a phase transition to the direct isotropic/smectic-C (tilted lamellar) transition are studied. Two different proposed extensions to the model are studied both in the context of ideal ordering (point volume) and full three-dimensional uniaxial scalar/vector decomposition. Recommendations based upon the inclusion of essential physics and computational feasibility are made, distinguishing each of the two proposed extensions based upon these criteria. Additionally, it is found that the approach used for the isotropic/smectic-A model to deterministically compute phase diagram data is not possible for either of the two proposed isotropic/smectic-C models.