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Phase transition of nematic to smectic C through an intermediate boundary induced smectic A structure
Author(s) -
Simova P.,
Petrov M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.2170220420
Subject(s) - liquid crystal , phase (matter) , phase transition , condensed matter physics , materials science , biaxial nematic , twist , phase boundary , crystallography , chemistry , physics , geometry , organic chemistry , mathematics
An intermediate phase has been observed at the transition nematic to smectic C where a smectic A structure induced by the boundaries and a nematic phase exist simultaneously. The temperature interval of existence of the intermediate phase is of the order of one tenth of degree. Several conditions are necessary for its appearance: the latent heat L of the phase transition nematic‐smectic C of the liquid crystal should be sufficiently small ( L < k B T c ); the nematic phase should undergo a bend deformation by the boundaries (possibly a twist one as well) and the transition nematic‐smectic C should be carried out as slower as possible.