Anisotropic translational diffusion in the nematic phase: Dynamical signature of the coupling between orientational and translational order in the energy landscape

Chakrabarti, Dwaipayan and Bagchi, Biman (2006) Anisotropic translational diffusion in the nematic phase: Dynamical signature of the coupling between orientational and translational order in the energy landscape. In: Physical Review E, 74 (4). 041704-1-041704-4.

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Abstract

We find in a model system of thermotropic liquid crystals that the translational diffusion coefficient parallel to the director $D_1$ first increases and then decreases as temperature drops through the nematic phase, and this reversal occurs where the smectic order parameter of the underlying inherent structures becomes significant. We argue, based on an energy landscape analysis, that the coupling between orientational and translational order can play a role in inducing the nonmonotonic temperature behavior of $D_1$. Such a view is likely to form the foundation of a theoretical framework to explain the anisotropic translation diffusion.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Physical Review E
Publisher:	The American Physical Society
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to The American Physical Society.
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Solid State & Structural Chemistry Unit
Date Deposited:	01 Dec 2006
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:33
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/9070

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