The Elastic Constants of a Nematic Liquid Crystal

Abstract

The elastic constants of a nematic liquid and of a solid crystal were derived by comparing the Gibbs free energy with the elastic energy. The expressions for the elastic constants of the nematic and the solid crystal are isomorphic: [formula omitted]. In the nematic phase [formula omitted] and l are the mean field energy and the molecular length. In the solid crystal, [formula omitted] and l correspond to the curvature of the potential and to the lattice constant, respectively. The measured nematic elastic constants show the predicted l dependence. © 1975, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.