Phase-field-crystal model for liquid crystals

TL;DR

This paper introduces a phase-field-crystal model for liquid crystals based on density functional theory, capturing various phases and dynamics, enabling efficient simulations of nonequilibrium phenomena.

Contribution

A novel phase-field-crystal model incorporating both translational and orientational order parameters for liquid crystals, derived from density functional theory.

Findings

Model exhibits stable isotropic, nematic, smectic A, columnar, and crystalline phases.

Translational density is conserved; orientational order is non-conserved.

Suitable for numerical studies of nonequilibrium liquid crystal behavior.

Abstract

Based on static and dynamical density functional theory, a phase-field-crystal model is derived which involves both the translational density and the orientational degree of ordering as well as a local director field. The model exhibits stable isotropic, nematic, smectic A, columnar, plastic crystalline and orientationally ordered crystalline phases. As far as the dynamics is concerned, the translational density is a conserved order parameter while the orientational ordering is non-conserved. The derived phase-field-crystal model can serve for efficient numerical investigations of various nonequilibrium situations in liquid crystals.