Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.262, 391-402, 1995
Orientational Dynamics in the Isotropic-Phase of a Nematic Mixture - Subpicosecond Time-Resolved Optical Kerr-Effect Experiments on Zli-1167 Liquid-Crystal
We have investigated the orientational dynamics of the ternary mixture of propyl, pentyl and heptyl cyano-cyclohexyls (ZLI-1167) in the isotropic phase over a wide temperature range (372-453 K) by means of transient optical Kerr effect spectroscopy. The orientational dynamics of ZLI-1167 isotropic phase shows a complex relaxation pattern where several dynamical processes take place. We substantially observed three time scales of relaxation : fast (from hundreds of fsec to few psec), intermediate (from tens to hundreds of psec) and slow (from hundreds of psec to few nsec). The slow orientational relaxation shows a temperature dependence characterized by strong pre-transitional effects. The critical slowing down of these relaxation times can be correctly interpreted by Landau-de Gennes theory. The fast and intermediate decay times show a different temperature dependence without any observable pre-transitional effects. We suggest an interpretation of the experimental results in term of averaged single molecule dynamics and collective dynamics.