Abstract:
Nematic droplets are studied with Monte Carlo simulations with a modified Gruhn-Hess pair potential. The potential is spatially anisotropic and potential parameters are related to elastic constants
K11 ,
K22 ,
K33 and surface-like elastic constant
K13. It is assumed that nematic droplet surface is a free surface. Second order parameters and introrse intensity, which describes quantitatively intrinsic anchoring induced by surface at low temperatures, are calculated with a modified Gruhn-Hess pair potential and are compared with those in Gruhn-Hess model I. It is shown that the modified model with
K13 induces intrinsic anchoring near droplet surface, orientation and intrinsic anchoring strength depend strongly on
K13, and introrse intensity is related to
K33/
K11. Order degree of nematic droplet is lower from inner shell to outer shell due to incomplete anisotropic nematic-nematic interactions.