Bend expulsion from the smectic-A phase: Analogy to type-I superconductor
نویسندگان
چکیده
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. aPresent address: Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tsukuba, Japan bPresent address: Dipartamento di Fisica, Università della Calabria,
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