Mean Field Monte Carlo Methods: Application to Nematic Transition

A new Monte Carlo method is proposed which predicts the isotropic-nematic transition of liquid crystalline molecules with complex molecular structure. The method utilizes a mean field theory and calculates the free energy and the mean field potential for given molecular structure and interaction potential. As an example, the isotropic-nematic transition of a rigid molecule with zigzag shape is studied and an even-odd effect in the isotropic-nematic transition is demonstrated.