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 analyzed by renormalization group techniques. It is shown that for d > 5 dimensions the model exhibits a continuous transition with Gaussian-like critical behavior. However, for d = 5 - ε (ε > 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 and by Swift and Leitner. A full account of this work appears in J. Phys. C13, 161 (1980).
Supported in part by a grant from the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Jerusalem, Israel.
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© 1980 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Mukamel, D., Hornreich, R.M. (1980). The Nematic-Smectic C Phase Transition: A Renormalization Group Analysis. In: Helfrich, W., Heppke, G. (eds) Liquid Crystals of One- and Two-Dimensional Order. Springer Series in Chemical Physics, vol 11. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-67848-6_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-67848-6_19
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