Scattering of gases from aligned liquid crystals: Collision-induced loss of order at the gas–liquid interface

An atomic beam of helium is scattered from the surface of an aligned nematic liquid crystal film (4′-pentyl-4-cyanbo biphenyl, 5CB). Collisions of atoms with the surface initiate a transient loss of order in the film. The magnitude of this change depends on the momentum direction of the atomic beam...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of chemical physics 1996-12, Vol.105 (21), p.9574-9579
Main Authors: Randall, Karen L., Fan, Y. B., Michel, Oliver, Goh, M. Cynthia, Donaldson, D. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:An atomic beam of helium is scattered from the surface of an aligned nematic liquid crystal film (4′-pentyl-4-cyanbo biphenyl, 5CB). Collisions of atoms with the surface initiate a transient loss of order in the film. The magnitude of this change depends on the momentum direction of the atomic beam with respect to the liquid crystal alignment director. The effect is significantly more pronounced when the incoming beam is perpendicular to the director than when it is parallel. This anisotropy may be due to a more efficient alignment-changing torque exerted on the 5CB molecules by perpendicular collisions with He.
ISSN:0021-9606
1089-7690
DOI:10.1063/1.472789