Thermotropic Liquid Crystals, Fundamentals

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

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2. Mesomorphic Behaviour

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Introduction

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 3-19

   3. Nematic Liquid Crystals

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 20-28

   4. Smectic Liquid Crystals

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 29-47

   5. Other Liquid Crystalline Systems

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 48-62

3. Continuum Theory

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63

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   2. Static Continuum Theory

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 65-88

   3. Effects of External Fields

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 89-105

   4. Applications of Continuum Theory

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 106-136

   5. Fluid Dynamics of Nematics

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 137-163

4. Orientational Order and Anisotropic Properties

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 165-165

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   2. Orientational Order

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 167-189

   3. Anisotropic Physical Properties

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 190-206

   4. Dynamic Behaviour of the Molecules

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 207-217

5. Liquid Crystalline Phases and Phase Transitions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 219-219

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   2. Landau Theory of Liquid Crystalline Phases

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 221-244

   3. Molecular Statistical Theory of the Nematic Phase

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 245-282

   4. Molecular Statistical Theory of the Smectic Phases

      • Ger Vertogen, Wim H. de Jeu

      Pages 283-307

6. Back Matter

   Pages 309-324

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The aim of this book is to give a unified and critical account of the fundamental aspects of liquid crystals. Preference is given to discussing the assumptions made in developing theories and analyzing experimental data rather than to attempting to compile all the latest results. The book has four parts. Part I is quite descriptive in character and gives a general overview of the various liquid crystalline phases. Part II deals with the macroscopic continuum theory of liquid crystals and gives a systematic development of the theory from a tensorial point of view thus emphasizing the relevant symmetries. Part III concentrates on experiments that provide microscopic information on the orientational behaviour of the molecules. Finally Part IV discusses the theory of the various phases and their attendant phase transitions from both a Landau and a molecular-statistical point of view. Simplifying the various models as far as possible, it critically examines the merits of a molecular-statistical approach.

• crystal
• fluid dynamics
• phase transition

• Institute for Theoretical Physics, Catholic University, Toernooiveld, The Netherlands

  Ger Vertogen

• Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands

  Wim H. Jeu

• FOM-Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  Wim H. Jeu

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