Abstract
We present a synchrotron-x-ray study of the smectic-C () and smectic-I () phase in a single-domain freely suspended film. Weak bond-orientational order in the phase evolves continuously into the phase so that the two phases are not thermodynamically distinct. From a Fourier analysis we obtain the hexatic order parameter , the coefficient of cos6χ. The higher &, with ≃n+0.3n(n-1), in agreement with a scaling theory.
- Received 17 April 1986
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.57.98
©1986 American Physical Society