Poincaré–Steklov operator

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In the study of liquid crystals the paranematic susceptibility (Latin: susceptibilis “receptiveness”) is a quantity that describes the degree of induced order in a liquid crystal in response to an applied magnetic field. As a result of the diamagnetic anisotropy of liquid crystal molecules, nematic order can be produced by the application of a magnetic field. If a magnetic field is applied to a nematic liquid crystal in the isotropic phase then the order is given by:

P2=ηH2

The proportionality constant η is the paranematic susceptibility. The value increases as the liquid crystal is cooled towards its transition temperature. In both the mean field approximation and Landau-deGennes theory the paranematic susceptibility is proportional to (TTC*)1 where TC* is the transition temperature.

References

  • E.B. Priestley, P.J. Wojtowicz, and P. Sheng, Introduction to Liquid Crystals, Plenum Press, 1974. ISBN 0-306-30858-4
  • P. Sheng and P.J. Wojtowicz, (1976). Constant-coupling theory of Nematic Liquid Crystals, Physical Review A, Vol. 14, No. 5.