Ferroelectric liquid-crystal and solid phases formed by strongly interacting dipolar soft spheres

Abstract

Molecular-dynamics simulation results are reported for systems of strongly interacting dipolar soft spheres. Calculations have been carried out along two isotherms and the structure of the liquid-crystal and solid phases obtained is described in detail. It is found that in addition to the ferroelectric nematic phase we previously reported [Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 2043 (1992)], liquid crystals with columnar order can also be obtained. The model freezes to form a ferroelectric solid which is shown to have a tetragonal I crystal structure. The influence of different boundary conditions upon the simulation results is also discussed.