title: Polar order and tilt in achiral smectic phases.
abstract: Material with the phase sequence SmA-SmAP-SmCP is studied as an example of a system in which the spontaneous electric polarization and the molecular tilt develop independently at the SmA-SmAP and the SmAP-SmCP phase transition, respectively. The temperature dependence of the spontaneous electric polarization clearly shows a strong coupling between the polarization and tilt. The system exhibits also very strong precritical polarization and tilt fluctuations. Experimental observations are explained within the theoretical model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University, aleya Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pociecha
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorecka
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cepic
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vaupotic
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weissflog