Using a Landau–de Gennes free energy, we present a systematic numerical study of nematic liquid crystals confined in a cylindrical cavity. We discuss the nematic to isotropic phase transition of 4-n-pentyl-$4^{\mathcal{’}}$-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in a cylinder with a large length to width ratio and consider the effects of different surface anchoring interactions and director configurations. We calculate the temperature profile of the scalar orientational order parameter, heat capacity and latent heat, finding excellent agreement with recent experimental studies, and suggest the practical applicability of the model.

• Received 1 September 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.51.R2743