Systems with competing interlayer interactions and modulations in one direction: finding their structures.
Complex structures in polar smectic systems can be studied within framework of discrete phenomenological models. Considered interactions are usually described by nonlinear trigonometric functions that do not allow for a straightforward search for solutions. The review of three methods reported in the literature are presented and their appropriateness, advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Examples are given as an illustration for each method.
Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva pl. 16, 1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia); Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia). mojca.cepic@pef.uni-lj.si.
Mojca
M
Cepič
antiferroelectric liquid crystals; bent-core liquid crystals; complex structures; phenomenological models; polar smectics