Surface Energy for Nematic Liquid Crystals: A New Point of View

Abstract

The surface energy of nematic liquid crystals is deduced from a phenomenological point of view. The idea of an easy surface tensor order parameter is proposed. An expression similar to a Landau expansion for the free energy of a system characterized by two order parameters is deduced and analysed. An interpretation similar to the one usually accepted for magnetic materials is given. The possibility of surface transitions induced by temperature is discussed. © 1992, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.