A possible critical point for nematic order on the basis of Landau free energy having dual instabilities for nano-segregated smectic liquid crystals

Abstract

Landau expansion of free energy assuming dual instabilities for the nano-segregated SmA phase is analyzed. In addition to known phase sequences (on cooling, disordered isotropic liquid → nematic phase → smectic phase, and disordered isotropic liquid → smectic phase), a new sequence (disordered isotropic liquid → density wave with subsidiary nematic order → smectic phase) and the existence of a critical point are demonstrated in the case where the instability for density wave formation occurs at a higher temperature.