Dislocation-loop melting theory of phase diagrams with nematic regions surrounded by smectic regions

J. Prost; John Toner

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.36.5008

Dislocation-loop melting theory of phase diagrams with nematic regions surrounded by smectic regions

J. Prost and John Toner

Phys. Rev. A 36, 5008 – Published 1 November 1987

Abstract

We show that a dislocation-loop theory of the smectic-A–nematic transition predicts the existence of both nematic regions surrounded by smectic regions and a smectic– $A_{1}$ - $A_{d}$ critical point in the phase diagram, in agreement with recent observations. Fluctuation-corrected mean-field theory leads to a remarkable topology for the isolated nematic region.