2008/08/26 by Livio Gibelli, Gibelli, Livio, Stefano Turzi +1
Computer Science · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Liquid Crystal Research Advancements #Material Dynamics and Properties #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0808.3555
arxiv created 2008/08/26 · openalex publication_date 2008/08/26 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A criterion to locate tricritical points in phase diagrams is proposed. The criterion is formulated in the framework of the Elementary Catastrophe Theory and encompasses all the existing criteria in that it applies to systems described by a generally non symmetric free energy which can depend on one or more order parameters. We show that a tricritical point is given whenever the free energy is not 4-determined. An application to smectic-C liquid crystals is briefly discussed.