THE TUMBLING OR FLOW-ALIGNING NATURE OF NEMATICS AS PREDICTED FROM THE SLIGHTLY BENDING ROD MOLECULAR MODEL

摘要: Existing calculations of the Leslie coefficients for rigid rods endowed with Maier-Saupe potential are here extended to investigate consequences relaxing constraint a complete molecular rigidity. In particular, recently proposed model Slightly Bending Rod (SBR) is used calculate ratio alpha3/alpha2, sign which controls whether nematic tumbling or flow-aligning type. The results show that SBRs more prone than fully rods. transition, takes place by increasing order parameter (e.g. decreasing temperature) shifted, SBRs, smaller value parameter.