Thinning transitions in free-standing liquid-crystal films as the successive formation of dislocation loops

S. Pankratz, P. M. Johnson, R. Hołyst, C. C. Huang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe a model for the layer-thinning transition in free-standing liquid-crystal films based on the successive, spontaneous formation of dislocation loops. As the film temperature increases and the smectic order and layer compressional modulus decrease, the condition for creating a dislocation loop of critical radius is met and a thinning is nucleated. The resulting equation for N, the number of smectic layers, as a function of temperature yields good fitting results to the thinning transitions obtained from several fluorinated compounds.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)R2456-R2459
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
Volume60
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

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