title: Self-organization of N(*) inclusions in SmC(*) free-standing films.
abstract: The behaviour of freely suspended smectic-C* ( SmC(*)) films at the bulk SmC(*)-cholesteric ( N(*)) phase transition has been investigated using polarized-reflected-light microscopy. Our experimental observations show that above the bulk SmC(*)- N(*) phase transition the N(*) order appears in different ways according to the film thickness. In thin films, the conventional layer-by-layer thinning occurs. In films of intermediate thickness N(*) inclusions nucleate inside the SmC(*) film. The distortions of the in-plane orientational order of the SmC(*) host phase induce elastic interactions between the inclusions and lead to their self-organization in chain-like structures. Both the dynamic of the chaining and the parameters driving the equilibrium distance between the inclusions in the chain are investigated. In thick films, N(*) fingers grow inside the film. The influence of the experimental conditions on the various processes is analysed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Dynamique et Structure des Matériaux Moléculaires, UMR CNRS 8024, Université de Lille I, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. Philippe.cluzeau@univ-lille1.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cluzeau
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonnand
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dolganov
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Nguyen