title: Modulated phase of liquid crystals: covariant elasticity in the context of soft, achiral smectic-C materials.
abstract: Ginzburg-Landau-de Gennes-type covariant theories are extensively used in connection with twist grain boundary phases of chiral smectogens. We analyze the stability conditions for the linear, covariant elasticity theory of smectic-C liquid crystals in the context of achiral materials, and predict an equilibrium modulated structure with an oblique wave vector. We suggest that a previous experimental observation of stripes in smectic-C is consistent with the predicted structure.
authors.affiliation: Raman Research Institute, C.V. Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560 080, India.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Venkatramanan
authors.forename: Yashodhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatwalne
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Madhusudana
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006244:Hardness; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D044367:Phase Transition