Abstract
Two modified mean-field models are studied to explain the surface reduction of twisting power in the helical smectic- phase in free-standing liquid crystal films. Profiles of the surface interlayer interaction are calculated from the experimental results. The calculations reveal the existence of a strong surface field and indicate that the surface field is the reason for the observed reduced twisting power near the surface region. Our results provide a quantitative study of the interlayer interactions through surface effects in smectic liquid crystals.
- Received 23 July 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051703
©2011 American Physical Society