Studies on phase transitions in liquid crystals under high pressure

Abstract

This paper describes some recent results obtained using the diamond anvil cell on the phase transitions occurring in liquid crystals under the influence of pressure. They are: (i) Identification of the pressure induced mesophases by observing the optical 'textures', (ii) pressure dependence of the smectic A layer spacing of 80CB in relation to its re-entrant behaviour, (iii) variation of the maximum pressure of occurrence of the re-entrant nematic phase with concentration for 60CB/ 8WH mixtures and (iv) the search for a 'Lifshitz point' in a single component liquid crystalline system.