Chiral twisting of a smectic-A liquid crystal
Chiral twisting of the molecular orientation within the layer of a smectic-A liquid crystal has been investigated using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The results indicate that a rotation of the layers away from the alignment direction is induced by the surface electroclinic effect. This leads to an interfacial region where the molecular director twists from the alignment direction until it reaches the layer normal direction. A theory is presented to explain the observed field and temperature dependence of the circular dichroism.
Spector
MS
Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6950, Washington, D.C. 20375-5348, USA.
Prasad
SK
Weslowski
BT
Kamien
RD
Selinger
JV
Ratna
BR
Shashidhar
R