Simulation of spherulite growth using a comprehensive approach to modeling the first-order isotropic/smectic-A mesophase transition

A comprehensive modeling and simulation study of the first-order isotropic/smectic-A transition is presented and applied to phase diagram computation and two-dimensional spherulite growth. An approach based on nonlinear optimization, that incorporates experimental data (from 12CB, dodecyl-cyanobiphenyl), is used to determine physically realistic model parameters. These parameters are then used in conjunction with an optimized phase diagram computation method. Additionally, a time-dependent formulation is presented and applied to the study of two-dimensional smectic-A spherulite growth. These results show the growth kinematics and defect dynamics of nanoscale smectic-A spherulite growth in an isotropic phase with an initially radial layer configuration.