| Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 55, Number 3, August 2001
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 355 - 361 | |
| Section | Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2001-00423-y | |
| Published online | 01 December 2003 | |
New surface elastic constant in asymmetric films of tilted molecules
Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg
23 rue du Lœss, 67037 Strasbourg, France
Corresponding author: Yves.Galerne@ipcms.u-strasbg.fr
Received:
13
February
2001
Accepted:
25
May
2001
A 2-dimensional, linear-splay elastic constant K1 is evidenced
in ultrathin prefreezing (and prewetting) films of a tilted
smectic liquid crystal (MHTAC). Though small, 
, K1 may produce visible effects in
quasi-2D systems. We show, in particular, that K1 is able to
promote a purely elastic instability in the film, corresponding
to a continuous rotation of the 
director. This
instability is characterized by typical patterns of stripes with
a 4-fringe periodicity between crossed polarizers, which denote
variations of the molecular tilt angle in the splay regions. K1
should also exist in Langmuir and biological films as well.
PACS: 61.30.Gd – Orientational order of liquid crystals; electric and magnetic field effects on order / 64.70.Md – Transitions in liquid crystals / 68.08.-p – Liquid-solid interfaces
© EDP Sciences, 2001
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