Microrheology in tumbling nematics of the 8CB liquid crystals

Abstract

Particle tracking passive microrheology in the 8CB liquid crystals is used to redefine the precessional motion of the orientation of nematic director in liquid crystals. Physical origin of the tumbling director in the presence of presmectic clusters under zero shear conditions is discussed. Different structural properties (pure nematic phase, presmectic (smectic C and smectic A clusters)) were differentiated with characteristic dependence of \(G'\) on \(\omega \) in the nematic phase of the 8CB liquid crystals. Also, dynamic viscosity is observed with a cross-over between parallel and perpendicular components as the smectic A phase is approached.