Bend-induced melting of the smectic-A phase: analogy to a type-I superconductor.
Using an atomic force microscope to nanopattern a substrate for liquid crystal alignment, a bend distortion is imposed on a liquid crystal. In regions of large bend the smectic-A phase melts into the nematic phase, and the width of the melted region is measured as a function of temperature. The results are consistent with type-I superconducting (nematic-smectic-A) behavior, wherein a large magnetic field (bend or twist distortion) induces an order to disorder transition. A model that accounts for non-mean-field behavior is presented.
Wang
Ruiting
R
Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7079, USA.
Syed
Ishtiaque M
IM
Carbone
Giovanni
G
Petschek
Rolfe G
RG
Rosenblatt
Charles
C