P. V. Dolganov, V. K. Dolganov, P. Cluzeau, “Structure of $\pi$- and 2$\pi$-walls in smectic films”, Pis'ma v Zh. Èksper. Teoret. Fiz., 2012, Volume 96, Issue 5,Pages 347

This article is cited in 3 papers

CONDENSED MATTER

Structure of $\pi$- and 2$\pi$-walls in smectic films

P. V. Dolganov^a, V. K. Dolganov^a, P. Cluzeau^b

^a Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences
^b Université Bordeaux I, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, CNRS

Abstract: The structure of $\pi$- and 2$\pi$-walls in smectic films was reconstructed from optical reflectivity measurements. Investigations were made in free standing films of nonpolar Smectic-$C$ and ferroelectric Smectic-$C^*$ liquid crystals. $\pi$-walls are observed in magnetic field and 2$\pi$-walls in electric field parallel to the film plane. For the first time the distribution of molecular orientation across the walls was determined. Peculiarities of the wall structure related to the anisotropy of the film elasticity were found. The structure of the walls is well described by the theory taking into account the anisotropy of two-dimensional elasticity of smectic films.

Received: 23.07.2012

Language: English