Response of liquid crystals to an oscillating electric field: Scaling of hysteresis loss.

We performed Monte Carlo simulations on a liquid crystal system using a lattice spin model in three dimensions to study the behavior of order parameter (ρ) in presence of an oscillating electric field. Hysteresis is observed when we plot order parameter against the electric field. The area of this hysteresis loop increases with the increase in frequency (ω) of applied field up to a certain frequency ω† and decreases and goes to zero if frequency is increased further. We find that the area of the loop scales as Aε0αωβ/(B2 + ω1+γ) with exponents α = 0.75, β = 0.5 and γ = 0.75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]