Evidence for a topological transition in nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in two dimensions

2003/01/31 by A. I. Farinas Sanchez, A. I. Fariñas Sanchez, Ricardo Paredes +3 · 1 citation
Computer Science · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Liquid Crystal Research Advancements #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Theoretical and Computational Physics #cond-mat.stat-mech

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/s0375-9601(03)00060-4

published as Phys. Lett. A 308 (2003) 461-466 · 6 pages, 4 eps figures. A few typos corrected

arxiv created 2003/02/03 · openalex publication_date 2003/03/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The nematic-to-isotropic orientational phase transition, or equivalently the RP² model, is considered in two dimensions and the question of the nature of the phase transition is addressed. Using powerful conformal techniques adapted to the investigation of critical properties of two-dimensional scale-invariant systems, we report strong evidences for a transition governed by topological defects analogous to the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in two-dimensional XY model.

Citations

• Existence of Long-Range Order in One and Two Dimensions
• The critical properties of the two-dimensional xy model
• Ordering, metastability and phase transitions in two-dimensional systems
• An introduction to lattice gauge theory and spin systems

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• Octupolar ordering of classical kagome antiferromagnets in two and three dimensions