Physics – Condensed Matter – Soft Condensed Matter
Scientific paper
2006-04-05
Physics
Condensed Matter
Soft Condensed Matter
\`{a} para\^{i}tre dans Philosophical magazine
Scientific paper
It is usual to think of Focal Conic Domains (FCD) as perfect geometric constructions in which the layers are folded into Dupin cyclides, about an ellipse and a hyperbola that are conjugate. This ideal picture is often far from reality. We have investigated in detail the FCDs in several materials that have a transition from a smectic A (SmA) to a nematic phase (N). The ellipse and the hyperbola are seldom perfect, and the FCD textures also suffer large transformations (in shape or/and in nature) when approaching the transition to the nematic phase, or appear imperfect on cooling from the nematic phase. We interpret these imperfections as due to the interaction of FCDs with dislocations. We analyze theoretically the general principles subtending the interaction mechanisms between FCDs and finite Burgers vector dislocations, namely the formation of \textit{kinks} on disclinations, to which dislocations are attached, and we present models relating to some experimental results. Whereas the principles of the interactions are very general, their realizations can differ widely in function of the boundary conditions.
Claire Meyer
Maurice Kléman
Yuri Nastishin A.
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