Can <P₄> be obtained from fluorescence depolarization in nematics? Disc-like probes

Abstract

The determination of the fourth rank orientational order parameter, <P ₄>, is an important goal in liquid crystal research. Here we have looked at the feasibility of obtaining <P ₄> for a disc-like probe molecule from a time dependent fluorescence depolarization experiment. Simulated data at various temperatures have been prepared and then analyzed both individually and simultaneously using the global target deconvolution procedure. We have examined, in particular, the case of molecules subject to effective potentials containing a combination of second and fourth rank terms.