Model of dark conglomerate structure in the B2 phase of bent-shape molecules

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2013 Apr;87(4):042503. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.87.042503. Epub 2013 Apr 8.

Abstract

Texture observations in B2 phase of bent-shape molecules showed a coexistence of so-called dark conglomerate (DC) structure with fan-shaped texture composed of focal conic domains (FCDs). A model of DC structure based on grains of dimensions lower than visible wavelengths is proposed and used to compare the energies of DC and FCD structures. The comparison of energies of both structures enables the estimation of approximate model parameters. Reorientation of smectic layers in grains under an electric field and transformation into the system of FCD structure are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't