Abstract
We analyze the global phase diagram of a Maier-Saupe lattice model with the inclusion of shape-disordered degrees of freedom to mimic a mixture of oblate and prolate molecules (discs and cylinders). In the neighborhood of a Landau multicritical point, solutions of the statistical problem can be written as a Landau-de Gennes expansion for the free energy. If the shape-disordered degrees of freedom are quenched, we confirm the existence of a biaxial nematic structure. If orientational and disorder degrees of freedom are allowed to thermalize, this biaxial solution becomes thermodynamically unstable. Also, we use a two-temperature formalism to mimic the presence of two distinct relaxation times, and show that a slight departure from complete thermalization is enough to stabilize a biaxial nematic phase.
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Henriques, E.F., Salinas, S.R. Biaxial nematic phase in the Maier-Saupe model for a mixture of discs and cylinders. Eur. Phys. J. E 35, 14 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2012-12014-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2012-12014-1