Rotational viscosities of Gay-Berne mesogens

Rotational viscosities gamma(1) are calculated for three Gay-Berne models for a wide range of state points in the nematic phase. There was a strong density dependence in the results, with gamma(1) increasing with increasing density. Away from the clearing point, the temperature dependence of gamma(1) was described by simple Arrhenius-like behaviour. A comparison of the values of gamma(1) and the Arrhenius activation energies with real mesogens pointed to a number of problems with the Gay-Berne potential, when used as a model for real mesogenic systems.