Modulated phases in a three-dimensional Maier-Saupe model with competing interactions
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2017-07-19
Authors
Bienzobaz, P. F.
Xu, Na
Sandvik, Anders W.
Version
Accepted manuscript
OA Version
Citation
PF Bienzobaz, Na Xu, Anders W Sandvik. 2017. "Modulated phases in a three-dimensional Maier-Saupe model with competing interactions." Physical Review E, Volume 96, Issue 1, 012137. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.96.012137
Abstract
This work is dedicated to the study of the discrete version of the Maier-Saupe model in the presence of competing interactions. The competition between interactions favoring different orientational ordering produces a rich phase diagram including modulated phases. Using a mean-field approach and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the proposed model exhibits isotropic and nematic phases and also a series of modulated phases that meet at a multicritical point, a Lifshitz point. Though the Monte Carlo and mean-field phase diagrams show some quantitative disagreements, the Monte Carlo simulations corroborate the general behavior found within the mean-field approximation.