title: First-order Fréedericksz transition above the nematic-smectic-a phase transition.
abstract: The Fréedericksz transition is investigated for thin homeotropic cells of a negative dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal above its nematic-smectic-A phase transition temperature in a spatially uniform electric field. For very thin cells, a crossover from second- to first-order Fréedericksz behavior is observed; no additional fields are necessary. The results are consistent with the theory of Shi [Liq. Cryst. 29, 121 (2002)]].
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7079, USA.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt