Surface-aligning field in smectic liquid-crystal films

LiDong Pan and C. C. Huang

Phys. Rev. E 84, 051703 – Published 9 November 2011

Abstract

Two modified mean-field $J_{1} - J_{2}$ models are studied to explain the surface reduction of twisting power in the helical smectic- $C_{α}^{*}$ phase in free-standing liquid crystal films. Profiles of the surface interlayer interaction are calculated from the experimental results. The calculations reveal the existence of a strong surface field and indicate that the surface field is the reason for the observed reduced twisting power near the surface region. Our results provide a quantitative study of the interlayer interactions through surface effects in smectic liquid crystals.

Received 23 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051703

Authors & Affiliations

LiDong Pan^1,2 and C. C. Huang¹

¹School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
²Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA

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Vol. 84, Iss. 5 — November 2011

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Physical Review E

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