Interpretation of unusual textures in the B2 phase of a liquid crystal composed of bent-core molecules.
A liquid crystal material of bent-core molecules is investigated by means of optical texture observations, x-ray measurements, and miscibility studies. While the x-ray and miscibility data point towards a B2 phase, the texture is however unusual, showing optical isotropy and segregation in two domains with opposite gyrations. It is shown that the texture can be interpreted successfully in terms of a smectic-C(A)P(A) structure in small domains with random orientations. The optical activity data are also explained semiquantitatively.
Ortega
J
J
Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del País Vasco, Apartado 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
Folcia
C L
CL
Etxebarria
J
J
Gimeno
N
N
Ros
M B
MB
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014965:X-Rays
D011108:Polymers; C422409:liquid crystal polymer