Isotropic-Nematic Transition in Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers: Lattice Model with Quenched Disorder

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dc.creatorSelinger, Jonathan V.
dc.creatorRatna, B. R.
dc.date2004-03-01
dc.date2004-08-05
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T02:56:44Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T02:56:44Z
dc.descriptionWhen liquid-crystalline elastomers pass through the isotropic-nematic transition, the orientational order parameter and the elastic strain vary rapidly but smoothly, without the expected first-order discontinuity. This broadening of the phase transition is an important issue for applications of liquid-crystalline elastomers as actuators or artificial muscles. To understand this behavior, we develop a lattice model of liquid-crystalline elastomers, with local directors coupled to a global strain variable. In this model, we can consider either random-bond disorder (representing chemical heterogeneity) or random-field disorder (representing heterogeneous local stresses). Monte Carlo simulations show that both types of disorder cause the first-order isotropic-nematic transition to broaden into a smooth crossover, consistent with the experiments. For random-field disorder, the smooth crossover into an ordered state can be attributed to the long-range elastic interaction.
dc.description9 pages, including 5 postscript figures, uses REVTeX 4
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0403061
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0403061
dc.identifierPhys. Rev. E 70, 041707 (2004)
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevE.70.041707
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/23446
dc.subjectSoft Condensed Matter
dc.subjectStatistical Mechanics
dc.titleIsotropic-Nematic Transition in Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers: Lattice Model with Quenched Disorder
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