Critical Specific Heat Anomaly in Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystals-Crossover, and Multicritical Phenomena

Recent results of the heat capacity measurements carried out on liquid crystals which exhibit ferro-, ferri-, and antiferroelectric phases have been described. A high-resolution ultralow frequency ac calorimeter has been used for the measurement. The analyses of the data with a preasymptotic power-law equation which includes correction-to-scaling terms have revealed a non-Landau 3D-XY critical behavior which crosses over to a Gaussian tricritical behavior. Multicritical behavior observed in MHPOBC racemate has also been discussed.

Keywords:

• Heat Capacity
• Ac Calorimetery
• Liquid Crystal
• Critical Phenomena
• Antiferroelectricity