The bend elastic constant $K_3$ and the anisotropy of diamagnetic susceptibility ${\chi }_a$ of two lyotropic mixtures: potassium laurate, decanol, and water and sodium decylsulfate, decanol, and water in the nematic calamitic phase are determined. The experimental method by the action of magnetic fields in samples with and without ferrofluid. These distortions are observed in a polarizing microscope. The results of $K_3$ and ${\chi }_a$ are compared with the measurements of these parameters for a different lyotropic mixture.

• Received 23 August 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.39.5373