Physics

Semisoft nematic elastomers and nematics in crossed electric and magnetic fields

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Nematic elastomers with a locked-in anisotropy direction exhibit semisoft elastic response characterized by a plateau in the stress-strain curve in which stress does not change with strain. We calculate the global phase diagram for a minimal model, which is equivalent to one describing a nematic in crossed electric and magnetic fields, and show that semisoft behavior is associated with a broken symmetry biaxial phase and that it persists well into the supercritical regime. We also consider generalizations beyond the minimal model and find similar results. © 2007 The American Physical Society.

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Publication Date

4-5-2007

Volume

98

Issue

14

ISSN

0031-9007

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.147801

Keywords

elasticity, electromagnetic fields, magnetic anisotropy, mathematical models, phase diagrams

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