Spatial correlation effects of molecules on the helical structure of cholesteric liquid crystals

摘要

An extended mean field theory that is somewhat different from the Maier-Saupe (MS) type of mean field theory is proposed for cholesteric liquid crystals. This extended mean field theory is based on Lennard-Jones and Devonshire's mean field treatment of isotropic classical liquids. Unlike the MS type of mean field theory, our treatment can include both orientation and spatial correlation effects of molecules. A set of mean field parameters are introduced and the corresponding self-consistent equations are derived. The results show that the spatial correlation of molecules may have non-negligible effects on the helical structure of cholesteric liquid crystals. [References: 26]