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The leading scalar coupling of an electric field to the nematic order parameter is quadratic in the field and linear in the tensor. For uniaxial nematic order, it is $-3\chi \lambda E^2({\cos }^2\vartheta -1/3)/2$. When $\chi \lambda >0$, minimization aligns the nematic director with the field axis and adds $-\chi E^2\lambda$ to the scalar Landau free energy.

The nematic order parameter is a symmetric second-rank tensor and a traceless second-rank tensor describing orientational anisotropy. For molecular unit axes $\mathbf{s}$, $Q_{ij}$ is proportional to $⟨s_i{s}_j-{\delta }_{ij}/3⟩$. It vanishes in an isotropic phase and is unchanged by head-tail reversal $\mathbf{s}\mapsto -\mathbf{s}$, unlike a polar order parameter. For uniaxial nematic order, the nematic director is thus an unoriented axis.

One convention for the Landau-de Gennes free energy through fourth order, respecting rotational symmetry, isFor a traceless second-rank tensor in three dimensions, the Cayley-Hamilton theorem gives $\mathrm{Tr}{Q}^4=(\mathrm{Tr}{Q}^2{)}^2/2$, so there is only one independent quartic rotational invariant of a symmetric traceless tensor. The only possible linear scalar is $\mathrm{Tr}Q=0$; without an external anisotropy no linear term survives.

The cubic rotational invariant of a symmetric traceless tensor distinguishes prolate and oblate forms of uniaxial nematic order. Head-tail reversal leaves $Q$ unchanged and does not impose $Q\mapsto -Q$. Thus a cubic term is allowed in three dimensions and generically produces a first-order phase transition, rather than a symmetry-enforced continuous onset. In two dimensions a symmetric traceless second-rank tensor has eigenvalues $s,-s$, hence $\mathrm{Tr}{Q}^3=0$: the cubic invariant vanishes identically in two dimensions. This is a statement about the Landau free energy; fluctuations in two dimensions require a separate treatment.

For the stated uniaxial nematic order normalization, the nematic director is an eigenvector of $Q$ with eigenvalue $\lambda$, and the two perpendicular eigenvalues are $-\lambda /2$. ThereforeUsing precisely the Landau-de Gennes free energy convention in the preceding solution givesIf the quartic invariant were instead normalized as $b\mathrm{Tr}{Q}^4/4$, its coefficient would be $\bar{b}=9b/32$; the physical predictions are unchanged after redefining $b$.

For a nonzero global minimizer of the free energy, compare opposite values of the scalar nematic order parameter:The lower one has $\bar{c}\lambda <0$, soThe claim concerns the stable ordered phase, not every metastable stationary point. For $\bar{c}=0$ the two signs are degenerate. For $\bar{c}\ne 0$, equality of the ordered and isotropic free energies, together with stationarity, gives ${\lambda }_t=-\bar{c}/(2\bar{b})$ and ${\bar{a}}_t={\bar{c}}^2/(4\bar{b})>0$. The finite jump ${\lambda }_t$ exhibits the first-order phase transition driven by the cubic invariant.