Anomalous heat capacity for nematic MBBA near clearing point

Abstract

The pretransition properties of the heat capacity on the both sides of the nematic - isotropic phase transition for the liquid crystal MBBA (n-methoxybenzylidene-n -butylaniline) are discussed on the basis of the Landau-de Gennes theory. Agreement between theory and experiment allows to obtain the critical exponents gamma and beta.