Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 73, Number 1, January 2006
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 49 - 54 | |
Section | Condensed matter: structural, mechanical and thermal properties | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2005-10348-y | |
Published online | 23 November 2005 |
Dislocation-loop-mediated smectic melting
1
Centre de recherche Paul-Pascal, CNRS - 115 avenue Albert-Schweitzer F-33600 Pessac, France
2
Saint-Gobain - Les Miroirs, 18 avenue d'Alsace, F-92096 La Défense Cedex, France
Corresponding author: navailles@crpp-bordeaux.cnrs.fr
Received:
26
August
2005
Accepted:
25
October
2005
We report the direct observation, using freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy, of topological melting in a lyotropic system in the vicinity of a smectic-cholesteric (N*) phase transition. The proliferation of dislocations leads to at least one, and possibly two intermediate phases, characterised by orientational ordering of the dislocation loops and the subsequent unbinding of the screw-dislocation lines.
PACS: 61.30.Jf – Defects in liquid crystals / 64.70.Md – Transitions in liquid crystals / 61.30.St – Lyotropic phases
© EDP Sciences, 2005
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