Evidence for a topological transition in nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in two dimensions

TL;DR

This paper provides strong evidence that the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in two dimensions is a topological transition similar to the BKT transition in the XY model, using conformal techniques.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the phase transition in the 2D nematic model is governed by topological defects, revealing a topological transition in this system.

Findings

Evidence of a topological transition similar to BKT in 2D nematic systems

Application of conformal techniques to analyze critical properties

Identification of topological defects governing the phase transition

Abstract

The nematic-to-isotropic orientational phase transition, or equivalently the $RP^2$ model, is considered in two dimensions and the question of the nature of the phase transition is addressed. Using powerful conformal techniques adapted to the investigation of critical properties of two-dimensional scale-invariant systems, we report strong evidences for a transition governed by topological defects analogous to the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in two-dimensional XY model.