Surface structures and transitions in the ${\mathrm{s}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{c}-\mathrm{C}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ phase of one chiral liquid crystal compound

Three optical probes have been employed on free-standing films to study surface structure and transitions of the ${\mathrm{SmC}}^{*}$ phase of one liquid crystal compound. While the interior layers show the ${\mathrm{SmC}}^{*}$ structure, the tilt in adjacent surface layers is found to be anticlinic. The number of anticlinic surface layers grows rapidly as the transition to the ${\mathrm{SmC}}_{\mathrm{FI}2\mathrm{}}^{*}$ phase is approached.