A new explanation for the spontaneous distortion of the liquid-crystal director n inside the nematic phase ( \(N_x\) -N transition) is proposed. It is based on the well-tested theory which includes an energetic coupling between n and mass density gradients in the Oseen-Frank elastic energy. Several consequences of this new approach are worked out, and it is found that they explain important effects experimentally observed. In particular, we explain why this phase transition is of first order in nature. Our findings suggest that there is no need for invoking negative Frank elastic constants.
