Pretransitional Dynamics Near the Nematic-Smectic A Transition

The dielectric relaxation in nematics can be conveniently described by the so-called Cole-Cole equation for the complex dielectric constant e (to) 

Dielectric relaxation phenomena were investigated in different nematic materials like PAA [159-162], MBBA [163-169], nitriles [170-173] and other mesogens [174-177]. A recent review of rotational dynamics and conformational kinetics in liquid crystals can be found in Ferrarini [178]. 

The linear electric field response can be measured in either a frequency or time-do- 

9 Pretransitional Dynamics Near the Nematic-Smectic A Transition 

The first observation of a critical enhancement of the K2 elastic constant was reported by Gruler [190] and Cheung etal. [191]. Delaye et al. [192] reported the first observation of a critical behavior of the elastic constant near the N — transition 

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