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Destruction of a first-order smectic-A→smectic-C* phase transition by dimensional crossover in free-standing films

Isabelle Kraus and Pawel Pieranski

Evgenij Demikhov and Horst Stegemeyer

John Goodby

  • Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Bâtiment 510, Université Paris(enSud, 91400 Orsay, France

  • Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Paderborn, Postfach 1621, 4790 Paderborn, Germany

  • School of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, England

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Phys. Rev. E 48, 1916 – Published 1 September, 1993

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.48.1916

Abstract

Shifting and destruction of phase transitions due to the finite thickness of free-standing smectic films are examined. The behavior of smectic films is studied as a function of the temperature and the thickness in a material showing a first-order smectic-A (Sm-A)→smectic-C* (Sm-C*) bulk phase transition. Measurements of the optical reflectivity and direct observations in an inverted polarizing microscope reveal that the first-order phase transition between Sm-A- and Sm-C*-like structures takes place in films that are thick enough (N>Nc=90). In thin films (N<Nc) this transition disappears. For N≊Nc, a critical behavior is detected. A theoretical scheme for interpretation of phase transitions in smectic films is proposed and on its basis a conjecture on tension-induced phase transitions is formulated.

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References (13)

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Outline

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Phys. Rev. E 48, 1916– Published 1 September, 1993
  • Received 22 February 1993

© 1993 American Physical Society

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