TY - JOUR
T1 - Smectic- Cα* phase with two coexistent helical pitch values and a first-order smectic- Cα* to smectic- C* transition
AU - McCoy, B. K.
AU - Liu, Z. Q.
AU - Wang, S. T.
AU - Pindak, R.
AU - Takekoshi, K.
AU - Ema, K.
AU - Seed, A.
AU - Huang, C. C.
PY - 2007/5/24
Y1 - 2007/5/24
N2 - Previous results from Kundu using dielectric relaxation have suggested a reentrant antiferroelectric-ferroelectric-antiferroelectric transition in the compound LN36. Our comprehensive studies of this compound using differential optical reflectivity, nonadiabatic scanning calorimetry, null transmission ellipsometry, and resonant x-ray diffraction show that in fact LN36 exhibits the usual phase sequence for chiral smectic liquid crystals: Sm A* -Sm Cα* -Sm C* -Sm C FI1 * -Sm CA*. Moreover, the Sm Cα* -Sm C* transition is a first-order transition, characterized by a discontinuous change in the helical pitch. At temperatures just above the Sm Cα* -Sm C* transition, two different values for the helical pitch are simultaneously observed for the first time.
AB - Previous results from Kundu using dielectric relaxation have suggested a reentrant antiferroelectric-ferroelectric-antiferroelectric transition in the compound LN36. Our comprehensive studies of this compound using differential optical reflectivity, nonadiabatic scanning calorimetry, null transmission ellipsometry, and resonant x-ray diffraction show that in fact LN36 exhibits the usual phase sequence for chiral smectic liquid crystals: Sm A* -Sm Cα* -Sm C* -Sm C FI1 * -Sm CA*. Moreover, the Sm Cα* -Sm C* transition is a first-order transition, characterized by a discontinuous change in the helical pitch. At temperatures just above the Sm Cα* -Sm C* transition, two different values for the helical pitch are simultaneously observed for the first time.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevE.75.051706
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevE.75.051706
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34547365828
SN - 1539-3755
VL - 75
JO - Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
JF - Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
IS - 5
M1 - 051706
ER -