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Theory on quench-induced pattern formation: Application to the isotropic to smectic-A phase transitions

Zhou Haijun·Ou-Yang Zhong-can
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Abstract

During catastrophic processes of environmental variations of a thermodynamic system, such as rapid temperature decreasing, many novel and complex patterns often form. To understand such phenomena, a general mechanism is proposed based on the competition between heat transfer and conversion of heat to other energy forms. We apply it to the smectic-A filament growth process during quench-induced isotropic to smectic-A phase transition. Analytical forms for the buckling patterns are derived and we find good agreement with experimental observation [Phys. Rev. {\bf E55} (1997) 1655]. The present work strongly indicates that rapid cooling will lead to structural transitions in the smectic-A filament at the molecular level to optimize heat conversion. The force associated with this pattern formation process is estimated to be in the order of $10^{-1}$ piconewton.

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Zhou Haijun, Ou-Yang Zhong-can. 1998-08-02. Theory on quench-induced pattern formation: Application to the isotropic to smectic-A phase transitions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.58.5909

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