Phase Transitions in Rod-Like Liquid Crystals

A large variety of phase transitions is present in the mesomorphic state, and for many years, a considerable number of experimental and theoretical studies have been devoted to the understanding of such phase transitions. This understanding is fascinating, but also of great importance from the fundamental point of view (indeed, liquid crystals are very convenient materials for experimental studies in condensed matter physics), as well as for the use of liquid crystals in devices (for example, the temperature dependence of physical parameters such as helical pitch, elastic coefficients, etc.). 

So many studies concerning this topic are now reported in the literature that this chapter cannot be an exhaustive presentation of all aspects of phase transitions in calamitic liquid crystals. It deals with the most extensively studied transitions (N-I, N-SmA, SmA-SmC, SmA-SmB ex) with developments on new trends such as phase transitions in free standing films and induced phase transitions (electrically, mechanically, etc.) the last part is devoted to less studied phase transitions, such as SmF-SmI, SmC-Sml, etc. transitions. In the whole chapter, the emphasis is put on the experimental situation with only a brief reference to the corresponding theoretical aspects (see Sec. 6.1 of Chap. VII of Vol. 1 of this handbook for a detailed description of the theo- 

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Chapter II Phase Transitions in Rod-Like Liquid Crystals.23... 

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