Field-induced layer thinning transition on free-standing smectic films

Details Field-induced layer thinning transition on free-standing smectic films Field-induced layer thinning transition on free-standing smectic films

2009-10-13

arxiv.org/abs/0910.2441v1

Physics

Condensed Matter

Soft Condensed Matter

To appear in Physical Review Letters

Scientific paper

Strongly anchored free-standing smectic films usually present a stepwise reduction of the number of layers when the temperature is raised above the smectic-isotropic bulk transition temperature. Here, we demonstrate that a field-induced layer thinning transition can take place in smectic films with a negative dielectric anisotropy even below the bulk transition temperature. Using an extended McMillan's model, we provide the phase diagram of this layering transition and show that, when the field is raised above the bulk transition field, the film thickness reduction is well described by a power-law with an exponent that depends on the temperature and the aspect ratio of the liquid crystal molecule.

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