Direct layer-by-layer freezing of a smectic liquid-crystal surface into the crystalline phase.
Electron diffraction and optical reflectivity have provided the direct confirmation of the existence of layer-by-layer surface transitions from the smectic-A immediately to the crystal-B phase in a liquid-crystal material, without going through an intermediate hexatic phase. The molecular interactions are found to be through retarded van der Waals forces. Our results suggest that a smectic-A film can transform into a crystal-B through three possible scenarios.
Chao
C Y
CY
Department of Physics and Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan, Republic of China. cychao@phy.ncu.edu.tw
Liu
Y H
YH
Pan
T C
TC
Chang
B N
BN
Ho
J T
JT