| Abstract: | The formation of the textures of smectic A phases was investigated. In planar oriented samples the A phases grow in the shape of rods without defects. The velocity of growth is strongly anisotropic with its maximum normal to the director orientation. In non oriented samples the smectic A texture is growing in batonnets with defect structure to give focal conic textures. The maximum growth velocity of the batonnets is parallel to the director orientation. Since this would contradict to the Wulff theorem we assume a growth mechanism with a screw dislocation. |
