Structural transitions in thermotropic ferronematics

271-275The structural instabilities in ferronematics based on different types of liquid crystals, exposed to electric or magnetic fields oriented perpendicular (Fredericksz transition) and parallel to the initial director, were studied within the Burylov and Raikher’s theory. Using the capacitance measurements the critical electric (magnetic) fields EFN (BFN), corresponding to the Fredericksz transition, and fields Emax, (Bmax,), at which the initial perpendicularity between director n→ and magnetic moment m→ breaks-down in field parallel to the initial director, were found. These values were then used for the estimation of the surface density of the anchoring energy W of liquid crystal molecules on the magnetic particle surface