Liquid Crystals

The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 2. Classification and Nomenclature of Liquid Crystal Phases 3. Thermotropic Calamitic Phases 3.1. Thermotropic Liquid Crystal Polymorphism 3.2. Structure - Phase Relationships 3.3. The Nematic Phase 3.4. Physical Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals 3.4.1. Refractive Indices 3.4.2. Dielectric Constants 3.4.3. Diamagnetic Constants 3.4.4. Elastic Constants 3.4.5. Light Scattering 3.4.6. Viscosities 3.4.7. Surface Alignment 3.5. Nematic Liquid Crystal Materials for Display Use 3.5.1. The Frederiks Transition 3.5.2. Electrically Controlled Birefringence 3.5.3. The Twisted Nematic Display 3.5.4. The Supertwisted Nematic Display 3.5.5. Active Backplane Liquid Crystal Displays 3.5.6. Guest - Host Displays 3.5.7. The Dynamic Scattering Display 3.5.8. Polymer Dispersion Liquid Crystal Devices 3.6. Thermotropic Cholesteric Liquid Crystals 3.7. Blue Phases 3.8. Thermotropic Smectic Phases 4. Thermotropic Discotic Liquid Crystals 5. Polymer Liquid Crystals 6. Amphiphilic Liquid Crystal Phases