Liquid crystal phase computer simulations

Despite extensive investigation of phase behavior of liquid crystals in computer simulation studies [97-99], the literature on computational studies of their dynamics is somewhat limited. The focal point of the latter studies has often been the single-particle and collective orientational correlation functions. The Zth rank single-particle orientational time correlation function (OTCF) is defined by... 

Frenkel D 1992 Computer simulations of phase transitions in liquid crystals Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystals ed S Martellucci and A N Chester (New York Plenum)... 

Force fields split naturally into two main classes all-atom force fields and united atom force fields. In the former, each atom in the system is represented explicitly by potential functions. In the latter, hydrogens attached to heavy atoms (such as carbon) are removed. In their place single united (or extended) atom potentials are used. In this type of force field a CH2 group would appear as a single spherical atom. United atom sites have the advantage of greatly reducing the number of interaction sites in the molecule, but in certain cases can seriously limit the accuracy of the force field. United atom force fields are most usually required for the most computationally expensive tasks, such as the simulation of bulk liquid crystal phases via molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo methods (see Sect. 5.1). 

Computer Simulation of Liquid Crystal Phases Formed by Gay-Berne Mesogens... 

The first of these was by Vieillard-Baron [5] who investigated a system of spherocylinders but failed to detect a liquid crystal phase primarily because the anisometry, L/D, of 2 was too small [37]. He also attempted to study a system of 2392 particles with the larger L/D of 5 but these simulations had to be abandoned because of their large computational cost. However, in view of the ellipsoidal shape of the Gay-Berne particles it is the behaviour of hard ellipsoids of revolution which is of primary relevance to us. 

Bates MA, Luckhurst GR (1999) Computer Simulation of Liquid Crystal Phases Formed by Gay-Berne Mesogens. 94 65-137 Bau RG, see Teller R (1981) 44 1-82... 

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