Freedericksz transition of nematics in an oblique magnetic field

Open Access

1 January 1975

journal article
Published by EDP Sciences in Journal de Physique

Vol. 36 (7-8) , 689-694
https://doi.org/10.1051/jphys:01975003607-8068900

Abstract

A planar nematic layer will show a Freedericksz transition in a magnetic field perpendicular to the unperturbed alignment. This transition occurs at H = Hc1 (splay) in a perpendicular field and at H = Hc2 (twist) in a field parallel to the layer. If the magnetic field is applied at an oblique angle with respect to the layer, but perpendicular to the direction of alignment, the threshold field can be varied continuously between Hc1 and Hc2. We calculate the deformation pattern above the threshold and compare our results with experiments on MBBA

Keywords

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:

New Method for Measuring the Twist Elastic Constant $\frac{K_{22}}{χ_{a}}$ and the Shear Viscosity $\frac{γ_{1}}{χ_{a}}$ for Nematics
Physical Review Letters, 1972