Calorific Effect of the Magnetically Induced Phase Transition in Induced Chiral Nematic Systems

Abstract

The study of the calorific effect of the magnetically-induced phase transition in doped nematic phases is described. The systems examined consisted of PCB as a nematic host phase and S-N-1-phenylethyl-4n-alkylbenzamides as non-mesogenic optically active dopants. The calorific effect was estimated indirectly from the temperature dependence of the magnetic-field-threshold of the helical unwinding and of the reverse process; i.e. the helical winding. It appears that it is the ratio of the length of an optically active dopant and that of the nematic host which determines the temperature dependencies of such parameters as the helical pitch, microscopic twisting power, and latent heat. A comparison with the magnetocaloric effect in nematic liquid crystals¹ is also made.

Key Words:

• twisted nematic
• phase change
• calorific effect