Journal de Physique II

Sommaire

DOI: 10.1051/jp2:1994237
J. Phys. II France 4 (1994) 1865-1874

Surface ordering and destruction of the first order phase transition smectic A-smectic C ^* in free standing smectic films

E. Demikhov, U. Hoffmann and H. Stegemeyer

University of Paderborn, Institute of Physical Chemistry, 33095 Paderborn, Germany

(Received 11 March 1994, revised in final form 16 June 1994)

Abstract
The thermodynamic behaviour of the first order phase transition smectic A-smectic C ^* in free standing films is studied numerically. Profiles of the tilt angle across the film, the free energy and average structural parameters $\langle \Theta \rangle$ and $\langle \cos\Theta \rangle$ are calculated. By diminishing the number of smectic layers the phase transition disappears at a critical film thickness $d_{\rm c}$ , which is approximately one order of magnitude larger than the penetration length of the surface induced order. Computer simulation results describe well recent experimental data.

Surface ordering and destruction of the first order phase transition smectic A-smectic C * in free standing smectic films

Surface ordering and destruction of the first order phase transition smectic A-smectic C ^* in free standing smectic films