Reexamination of the mean-field phase diagram of biaxial nematic liquid crystals: Insights from Monte Carlo studies

TL;DR

This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to reexamine the mean-field phase diagram of biaxial nematic liquid crystals, revealing how molecular interactions influence phase stability and addressing experimental challenges.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the role of molecular coupling in biaxial nematic phase formation through detailed free-energy analysis beyond mean-field theory.

Findings

Monte Carlo simulations show modifications to the mean-field phase diagram.

The degree of coupling affects the stability of the biaxial phase.

Free-energy profiles reveal barriers influencing phase transitions.

Abstract

Investigations of the phase diagram of biaxial liquid crystal systems through analyses of general Hamiltonian models within the simplifications of mean-field theory (MFT), as well as by computer simulations based on microscopic models, are directed towards an appreciation of the role of the underlying molecular-level interactions to facilitate its spontaneous condensation into a nematic phase with biaxial symmetry. Continuing experimental challenges in realising such a system unambiguously, despite encouraging predictions from MFT for example, are requiring more versatile simulational methodologies capable of providing insights into possible hindering barriers within the system, typically gleaned through its free energy dependences on relevant observables as the system is driven through the transitions. The recent brief report from this group [B. Kamala Latha, et. al., Phys. Rev. E 89, 050501 (R), 2014] summarizing the outcome of detailed Monte Carlo simulations carried out employing entropic sampling technique, suggested a qualitative modification of the MFT phase diagram as the Hamiltonian is asymptotically driven towards the so-called partly-repulsive regions. It was argued that the degree of the (cross) coupling between the uniaxial and biaxial tensor components of neighbouring molecules plays a crucial role in facilitating, or otherwise, a ready condensation of the biaxial phase, suggesting that this could be a plausible f actor in explaining the experimental difficulties. In this paper, we elaborate this point further, providing additional evidences from curious variations of free-energy profiles with respect to the relevant orientational order parameters, at different temperatures bracketing the phase transitions.