The nematic-smectic C phase transition: a renormalisation group analysis
- 20 January 1980
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics
- Vol. 13 (2) , 161-171
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3719/13/2/004
Abstract
The phase transition from a nematic to smectic C liquid crystal is described by an infinite-dimensional order parameter. A Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson model appropriate for this transition is introduced and analysed by renormalisation group techniques. It is shown that for d>5 dimensions the model exhibits a continuous transition with Gaussian-like critical behaviour. However, for d=5- epsilon ( epsilon >0) dimensions the model does not possess a stable fixed point, indicating that a first-order transition occurs. This is consistent with results derived previously by Brazovskii (1975) and by Swift and Leitner (1977).Keywords
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