Smectic-A-smectic-C transition in a ferroelectric liquid crystal without smectic layer shrinkage

The smectic layer spacing of a nonfluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) compound with almost no shrinkage and only minor tendency to form zigzag defects was characterized by small angle x-ray diffraction. The material lacks a nematic phase. The smectic-A*-smectic-C* phase transition was stu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics, 1999-07, Vol.60 (1), p.598-602
Main Authors: Giesselmann, F, Zugenmaier, P, Dierking, I, Lagerwall, S T, Stebler, B, Kaspar, M, Hamplová, V, Glogarová, M
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The smectic layer spacing of a nonfluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) compound with almost no shrinkage and only minor tendency to form zigzag defects was characterized by small angle x-ray diffraction. The material lacks a nematic phase. The smectic-A*-smectic-C* phase transition was studied by measuring the thermal and electric field response of the optical tilt and the electric polarization. These properties are described very well by a Landau expansion even without introduction of a higher-order Theta(6) term. This result suggests a pure second-order phase transition far from tricriticality and differs considerably from the typical behavior of the A*-C* transition in most FLC materials.
ISSN:1063-651X
1095-3787
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.60.598