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Bend-induced melting of the smectic-A phase: analogy to a type-I superconductor.
- Source :
-
Physical review letters [Phys Rev Lett] 2006 Oct 20; Vol. 97 (16), pp. 167802. Date of Electronic Publication: 2006 Oct 17. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Using an atomic force microscope to nanopattern a substrate for liquid crystal alignment, a bend distortion is imposed on a liquid crystal. In regions of large bend the smectic-A phase melts into the nematic phase, and the width of the melted region is measured as a function of temperature. The results are consistent with type-I superconducting (nematic-smectic-A) behavior, wherein a large magnetic field (bend or twist distortion) induces an order to disorder transition. A model that accounts for non-mean-field behavior is presented.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0031-9007
- Volume :
- 97
- Issue :
- 16
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Physical review letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17155435
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.167802