Abstract
Two modified mean-field J1-J2 models are studied to explain the surface reduction of twisting power in the helical smectic-Cα* phase in free-standing liquid crystal films. Profiles of the surface interlayer interaction are calculated from the experimental results. The calculations reveal the existence of a strong surface field and indicate that the surface field is the reason for the observed reduced twisting power near the surface region. Our results provide a quantitative study of the interlayer interactions through surface effects in smectic liquid crystals.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 051703 |
| Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
| Volume | 84 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 9 2011 |