NEMATIC-SMECTIC TRANSITION IN AN ALIGNED ROD SYSTEM

The nematic-smectic transition in the system of completely aligned hard cylindrical rods is investigated, by making use of the method of symmetry breaking potential. In the second virial approximation the transition is found to occur in the 3-dimensional system but not in the 1- and 2-dimensional systems, in contrast with the result obtained by Wadati and Isihara that the 2-dimensional system also exhibits such a transition. It is shown that the transition is very like the second order one. A shape effect is also studied. Furthermore, by introducing an isotropic attractive intermolecular force, the dependence of the transition on the strength of that force as well as the length and diameter of the rod molecule is investigated. © 1979, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.