Eur. Phys. J. E 6, 3-6 (2001)

The flexoelectric effect in nematic liquid crystals: A statistical- mechanical approach

A.V. Zakharov and R.Y. Dong

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9, Canada

avz@brandonu.ca
dong@brandonu.ca

(Received 27 April 2001 and Received in final form 27 August 2001)

Abstract
The flexoelectric coefficients e₁ and e₃ for polar liquid crystals, such as 4-n-pentyl- -cyanobiphenyl, are investigated theoretically by means of an integral equation approach, which takes into account translational, orientational correlations as well as their coupling. e₁ and e₃ are evaluated from microscopic expressions derived on the basis of a density-functional method.

PACS
61.30.Cz - Molecular and microscopic models and theories of liquid crystal structure.
62.40.+i - Anelasticity, internal friction, stress relaxation, and mechanical resonances.


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001