Title:	Kerr constant and third-order nonlinear optic susceptibility measurements in a liquid crystal composed of bent-shaped molecules
Authors:	Dhara, Surajit Araoka, Fumito Lee, Mongryong Van Le, Khoa Guo, Lingfen Sadashiva, B.K. Song, Kigook Ishikawa, Ken Takezoe, Hideo
Issue Date:	2008
Publisher:	American Physical Society
Citation:	Physical Review E, 2008, Vol.78, 050701
Abstract:	We report the determination of the Kerr constant (B) and the real part of the third-order nonlinear optic susceptibility (chi(3)) above the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature (TNI) of a liquid crystal composed of bent-shaped molecules. The values of B and chi(3) just above (~0.3 °C) TNI are ~8×10−12 m/V2 and 5×10−20 m2/V2, respectively. The estimated critical temperature T<sub>C</sub><sup>*</sup> is about 1.5 °C below TNI indicating that the nematic-isotropic (NI) transition is weakly first order as in the case of calamitic liquid crystals. The temperature-dependent Kerr constant is found to be in good agreement with the predictions of the Landau–de Gennes theory. The experimental results are compared with those in a calamitic liquid crystal material with negative dielectric anisotropy in the nematic phase.
Description:	Open Access.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/3693
ISSN:	E-ISSN: 1550-2376 P-ISSN: 1539-3755
Alternative Location:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.78.050701
Copyright:	2008 The American Physical Society
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (SCM)

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