Molecular Short Range Correlations in Nematic Liquid Crystal Films

A generalized functional variation theory of nematics is presented to take account of the local short range correlations between molecules. This theory is used to study nematics liquid crystal films. The nematics-isotropic transition temperature is determined. The orientational order parameter in each molecular layer and the internal energy per molecule associated with each layer are calculated. The numerical results are compared with those of the Monte Carlo simulation and of the mean field theory.