The lattice version of the Maier-Saupe model of a nematic liquid crystal, in which all molecules are restricted to be on a simple-cubic lattice with periodic boundary conditions and to interact only with their nearest neighbors through the interaction energy Eᵢⱼ=-ε(3/2cos²θᵢⱼ-1/2), is investigated using a Monte Carlo technique. The lattice is found to undergo a first-order phase transition at εkT=0.890±0.005 with a spontaneous order of 〈P₂(cosθ)〉=0.33±0.04 at the transition.
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Lebwohl et al. (1972) studied this question.
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