Evidence for a topological transition in nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in two dimensions

Abstract

The nematic-to-isotropic orientational phase transition, or equivalently the $R{P}^2$ model, is considered in two dimensions and the question of the nature of the phase transition is addressed. Using powerful conformal techniques adapted to the investigation of critical properties of two-dimensional scale-invariant systems, we report strong evidences for a transition governed by topological defects analogous to the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in two-dimensional XY model.

arXiv comment6 pages, 4 eps figures. A few typos corrected

References in corpus (2)

• Correlations in the low-temperature phase of the two-dimensional XY model
• Bulk and surface properties in the critical phase of the two-dimensional XY model

Cited by in corpus (11)

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• Provable first-order transitions for liquid crystal and lattice gauge models with continuous symmetries
• Introduction to topological defects: from liquid crystals to particle physics
• Topological transition in a two-dimensional model of liquid crystal
• Absence of nematic quasi-long-range order in two-dimensional liquid crystals with three director components
• Marginal dimensions of the Potts model with invisible states
• Phase behavior of the Confined Lebwohl-Lasher Model
• Critical points in the $R{P}^{N-1}$ model
• Contrasting pseudo-criticality in the classical two-dimensional Heisenberg and ${\mathrm{RP}}^2$ models: zero-temperature phase transition versus finite-temperature crossover
• Critical points in the $C{P}^{N-1}$ model
• On the $R{P}^{N-1}$ and $C{P}^{N-1}$ universality classes