Static and dynamic behavior of a nematic liquid crystal in a magnetic field - Part I : static results

Abstract

We give an extensive theoretical and experimental discussion of the statics and dynamics of the Freedericks transition of nematic MBBA films in a magnetic field. The experimental data are obtained from measurements of the anisotropy of the thermal conductivity across the film both in the « planar » and « homeotropic » configurations. Estimated values of the bend and splay elastic constants are obtained. Our measurements also give the first unambiguous value of the anisotropy of the heat conductivity (k∥ - k⊥)/ k⊥ = 0.64 ± 0.04