Structure of the chiral smectic-C(*)(alpha) phase.
Ellipsometric measurements of freely suspended films of a chiral liquid-crystal compound possessing the phase sequence smectic-A-smectic-C(*)(alpha)-smectic-C* have been conducted in order to elucidate the structure of the smectic-C(*)(alpha) phase. The measured ellipsometric quantities Delta and Psi are compared with values, which were calculated for model films using the 4x4 matrix method. Our results confirm, for the compound under investigation, predictions of a phenomenological model [M. Cepic and B. Zeks, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 263, 61 (1995)] according to which the smectic-C(*)(alpha) phase is characterized by a short-pitch helical structure.
Schlauf
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Institute of Physical Chemistry, University Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
Bahr
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Nguyen
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