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arXiv · 1009.0512

Nematics with quenched disorder : violation of self-averaging

J. M. Fish·R. L. C. Vink
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Abstract

We consider the isotropic-to-nematic transition in liquid crystals confined to aerogel hosts, and assume that the aerogel acts as a random field. We generally find that self-averaging is violated. For a bulk transition that is weakly first-order, the violation of self-averaging is so severe, even the correlation length becomes non-self-averaging: no phase transition remains in this case. For a bulk transition that is more strongly first-order, the violation of self-averaging is milder, and a phase transition is observed.

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BibTeXRIS

J. M. Fish, R. L. C. Vink. 2010-09-02. Nematics with quenched disorder : violation of self-averaging. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.105.147801

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