Deuterium NMR study of molecular order and conformation in the nematic phase of p-azoxyanisole

A single orientation order parameter tensor is shown to be sufficient for the entire molecule in the nematic phase of perdeuterated p-azoxyanisole by examining all the deuteron line splittings in the manner suggested by Bos and Doane. Two order parameters describing the molecular orientation order and the time averaged conformation of the molecule are measured. The relative conformation parameters are shown to be temperature independent within experimental error.