Intermolecular and Intramolecular Contributions to Proton Relaxation in Liquid Crystals

Abstract

The intermolecular and intramolecular spin-lattice relaxation times have been determined by isotopic dilution for the nematic and isotropic phases of $p$-asozyanisole. Derived correlation times for rotational and translational motions suggest that these processes are strongly coupled in the nematic phase. Comparison of rotational correlation times with results from dielectric studies indicates that rotational reorientation occurs by large jumps (greater than 60°) in the nematic phase.