Smectic phases with cubic symmetry: the splay analog of the blue phase.
We report on a construction for smectic blue phases, which have quasi-long-range smectic translational order as well as long-range cubic or hexagonal order. Our proposed structures fill space with a combination of minimal surface patches and cylindrical tubes. We find that for the right range of material parameters, the favorable saddle-splay energy of these structures can stabilize them against uniform layered structures.
DiDonna
B A
BA
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6396, USA.
Kamien
Randall D
RD