Symmetry and Critical Dynamics in Supercooled Liquid Crystals: Insights into the Glass Transition

Abstract

This study introduces a modeling approach aimed at elucidating the pivotal role of symmetry in phase transitions, focusing specifically on the isotropic-nematic (I-N) transition characteristic of liquid crystal systems. By leveraging insights from the Ising model and incorporating considerations of topological defects, the transition to the glassy state in rod-like molecular systems in the supercooled state is examined. Through a critical-like analysis of the system's dynamical properties, universality classes directly linked to symmetry are discerned. This paper delves into the role of symmetry in the glass transition, as manifested in the generalized critical relation of configurational entropy $S_C(T)=S_0(1-T_K/T)^n$, where the critical exponent $n$ is intricately tied to the system's symmetry. The determined values of the pseudocritical exponent $n$ exhibit universality across the studied systems and demonstrate excellent agreement with thermodynamic data. Furthermore, the congruence between the dynamic representation, as indicated by the primary relaxation time, and the thermodynamic representation, exemplified by the specific heat capacity, underscores the robustness of the findings. The identification of critical-like behavior and the observation of symmetry breaking during the transition to the glass state suggest its intrinsic thermodynamic nature. This work provides a unified framework for understanding the glass transition, bridging dynamic and thermodynamic perspectives through the lens of symmetry.