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Layer thinning transition in an achiral four-ring hockey stick shaped liquid crystal |
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| Authors: | Manoj Kr. Paul Rahul K. Nath Brian Moths LiDong Pan Shun Wang Rajdeep Deb |
| Affiliation: | 1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , MN 55455 , USA;2. Department of Chemistry , Assam University , Silchar 788 011 , Assam , India paulmanojaus@gmail.com;4. Department of Chemistry , Assam University , Silchar 788 011 , Assam , India;5. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , MN 55455 , USA |
| Abstract: | Depolarized reflected light microscopy and high resolution optical reflectivity measurements have been conducted on free-standing films of an achiral four-ring hockey stick shaped liquid crystal exhibiting SmA-B2–SmX* transition sequence. A layer thinning transition above the bulk isotropic-SmA phase transition has been observed. This behaviour was highly irreproducible, indicating an irregular layer thinning transition. From optical reflectivity data, both thickness of the free-standing films and the smectic interlayer spacing were determined. This is the first report of the layer thinning transition in a hockey stick shaped liquid crystal. |
| Keywords: | free-standing film thinning transition hockey stick shaped liquid crystal optical reflectivity intercalated smectic A phase |