Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
I propose that certain, stereo-regular, main and side chain polymer liquid crystals would have a giant, long-time dielectric susceptibility, χ, of unusual temperature dependence
ϰ ∼ const.. exp{+h/kBT}
with a large ultimate low temperature value χ - χo N where χo is a susceptibility characteristic of a simple dielectric fluid and N the degree of polymerisation. The response would be caused by polarising molecular defects in the nematic ordering; de Gennes hair pins for main chain and torsional defects in side chain polymers. h is the defect energy.
Experimentally χ(2) - χo(2) N is known in the non-linear optical response of PBLG, a limiting case of main chain polymers with no hair pins.
The timescale for the response of side chain mesogens is predicted to vary as τ ~ N2.