Abstract
A statistical-mechanical theory of the elastic constants of a liquid crystal based on the Onsager expansion is reexamined, with emphasis on the terms linear in the gradients of the director. This gives a microscopic theory of the piezoelectric effect in nematic liquid crystals, and of the spontaneous twisting of a cholesteric. Model cases of tapered rods, bent rods, and threaded rods are considered.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1835-1841 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Physical Review A |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1976 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics