Temperature variation of film tension above the bulk smectic-A-isotropic transition in freestanding liquid-crystal films.
We have measured the temperature variation of film tension above the bulk smectic-A-isotropic transition in freestanding films of two liquid-crystal compounds. Above the transition, the tension increases sharply with temperature, and the slope is proportional to the film's thickness regardless of whether or not the compound exhibits regular layer-by-layer thinning. The data can be interpreted in the context of theoretical models for layer thinning.
Veum
M
M
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 55481, USA. mveum@uwsp.edu
Kutschera
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E
Voshell
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N
Wang
S T
ST
Wang
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SL
Nguyen
H T
HT
Huang
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CC