Ellipsometric studies of synclinic and anticlinic arrangements in liquid crystal films

P. M. Johnson, D. A. Olson, S. Pankratz, Ch. Bahr, J. W. Goodby, and C. C. Huang
Phys. Rev. E 62, 8106 – Published 1 December 2000
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Abstract

The molecular arrangements in liquid crystal freestanding films are studied when smectic C* surface ordering occurs above the bulk smectic A to smectic C* transition temperature. Details of the resulting structures are resolved using ellipsometry. The behavior of the film is compound dependent. Below a critical electric field, either a synclinic or anticlinic structure may be present depending on the magnitude of the bulk spontaneous polarization. A model is presented in which the low-field anticlinic arrangement results from the interaction between polarization fluctuations at the two surfaces.

  • Received 31 May 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.62.8106

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

P. M. Johnson1, D. A. Olson1, S. Pankratz1, Ch. Bahr2, J. W. Goodby3, and C. C. Huang1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
  • 2Institut for Physikalische Chemie, Philipps-Universitat Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
  • 3School of Chemistry, The University, Hull HU6 7RX, England

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Vol. 62, Iss. 6 — December 2000

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