Original scientific paper

A quantum theory of liquid crystals

L. Novaković ; Institute of nuclear sciences "Boris Kidrič", Beograd
G. C. Shukla ; Institute of nuclear sciences "Boris Kidrič", Beograd

Abstract

A new approach towards an understanding of the basic excitations in the nematic liquid crystals is presented by exploring the pseudo-spin formaIism. The hamiltonian of the system is explicitly written for spin I in terms of the boson creation and annihilation operators. Using a method as developed in relation to the hydrogen-bonded ferroelectrics the spectrum of elementary excitations is calculated in two very important regions; one region being around the reciprocal lattice vector q = 0, the other region being around the value q=0 which coincides with the second maximum in a Fourier transform of the intermolecular potential. The former region corresponds to a linear part of the spectrum, whereas the latter region corresponds to a rotonic part of the spectrum. In order to test the present results we have explicitly calculated the zero­ -sound velocity and the mass of the rotons.

Keywords

liquid crystals

Hrčak ID:

321676

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/321676

Publication date:

2.2.1972.

Article data in other languages: serbian

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