Field-induced layer thinning transition on free-standing smectic films.
Strongly anchored free-standing smectic films usually present a stepwise reduction of the number of layers when the temperature is raised above the smectic-isotropic bulk transition temperature. Here, we demonstrate that a field-induced layer thinning transition can take place in smectic films with a negative dielectric anisotropy even below the bulk transition temperature. Using an extended McMillan's model, we provide the phase diagram of this layering transition and show that, when the field is raised above the bulk transition field, the film thickness reduction is well described by a power law with an exponent that depends on the temperature and the aspect ratio of the liquid-crystal molecule.
Pereira
Maria S S
MS
Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Alagoas 57072-970 Maceió-AL, Brazil.
Lyra
Marcelo L
ML
de Oliveira
Italo N
IN