Theories of phase behaviour and phase transitions in liquid crystals

Abstract

This paper reviews the microscopic statistical theories of liquid crystals for simple molecular systems. Starting from the early works of Onsager, Maier and Saupe to the recent advances and trends for the future. Particular attention is paid to the theories for systems of hard body molecules, which should play a central role in the development of the theories, as the hard spheres model was crucial in the theory of simple liquids.