Oblique Axial Order of Nematic Phase in a Field and Symmetry

Abstract

At a nematic system in the general condition exposed to two different kinds of external fields, e.g., electric and magnetic fields, a new order parameter called here an oblique axial order parameter is shown to be taken into account in addition to a uniaxial order parameter together with a biaxial one to describe transition phenomena correctly. Molecular formalism for the Maier-Saupe model is justified in an expansion form of order parameters. An effect of the oblique axial order parameter is demonstrated by studying a transition behaviour of the system in both of uniaxial and biaxial fields.