Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Phases and Mesophases
- 2 Phase Transitions
- 3 Order Parameters
- 4 Distributions
- 5 Particle–Particle Interactions
- 6 Dynamics and Dynamical Properties
- 7 Molecular Theories
- 8 Monte Carlo Methods
- 9 The Molecular Dynamics Method
- 10 Lattice Models
- 11 Molecular Simulations
- 12 Atomistic Simulations
- Appendix A A Modicum of Linear Algebra
- Appendix B Tensors and Rotations
- Appendix C Taylor Series
- Appendix D The Dirac Delta Function
- Appendix E Fourier Series and Transforms
- Appendix F Wigner Rotation Matrices and Angular Momentum
- Appendix G Molecular and Mesophase Symmetry
- Appendix H Quaternions and Rotations
- Appendix I Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- Appendix J X-ray Diffraction
- Appendix K Stochastic Processes
- Appendix L Simulating Polarized Optical Microscopy Textures
- Appendix M Units and Conversion Factors
- Appendix N Acronyms and Symbols
- References
- Index
2 - Phase Transitions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 July 2022
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Phases and Mesophases
- 2 Phase Transitions
- 3 Order Parameters
- 4 Distributions
- 5 Particle–Particle Interactions
- 6 Dynamics and Dynamical Properties
- 7 Molecular Theories
- 8 Monte Carlo Methods
- 9 The Molecular Dynamics Method
- 10 Lattice Models
- 11 Molecular Simulations
- 12 Atomistic Simulations
- Appendix A A Modicum of Linear Algebra
- Appendix B Tensors and Rotations
- Appendix C Taylor Series
- Appendix D The Dirac Delta Function
- Appendix E Fourier Series and Transforms
- Appendix F Wigner Rotation Matrices and Angular Momentum
- Appendix G Molecular and Mesophase Symmetry
- Appendix H Quaternions and Rotations
- Appendix I Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- Appendix J X-ray Diffraction
- Appendix K Stochastic Processes
- Appendix L Simulating Polarized Optical Microscopy Textures
- Appendix M Units and Conversion Factors
- Appendix N Acronyms and Symbols
- References
- Index
Summary
A summary of classical concepts from thermodynamics concerning phase transitions and a survey of phase transitions for a variety of thermotropic and lyotropic systems. The Landau theory for first- and second-order transitions applied to nematics and smectics is discussed in detail. Classic lattice models (Ising, Heisenberg, XY, Lebwohl–Lasher, …) and critical exponents, often associated with certain liquid crystals transitions, are introduced. Examples of experimental phase diagrams for thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals are shown.
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- Liquid Crystals and Their Computer Simulations , pp. 61 - 106Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022