title: Light-induced layer by layer thickening in photosensitive liquid crystal membranes.
abstract: Photosensitive smectic membranes of pure liquid crystal (LC) were studied under white light illumination. A thickness increase is observed in the illuminated film area. Appropriate light and thermal conditions lead to a thickening layer by layer process. This unusual phenomenon is opposite to the well-known step-by-step thinning transitions under heating. We give a phenomenological interpretation for thickening based on layer transport of LC matter towards the illuminated area.
authors.affiliation: LDSMM, CNRS 8024, UST Lille, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Fatiha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bougrioua
authors.forename: Philipe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cluzeau
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolganov
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Huu Tinh
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dolganov