# Light-Scattering and Ellipsometry Studies of the Two-Dimensional Smectic-C to Smectic-A Transition in Thin Liquid-Crystal Films

 Title: Light-Scattering and Ellipsometry Studies of the Two-Dimensional Smectic-C to Smectic-A Transition in Thin Liquid-Crystal Films Author: Amador, S. M.; Pershan, Peter S. Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. Citation: Amador, S. M. and Peter S. Pershan. 1990. Light-scattering and ellipsometry studies of the two-dimensional smectic-C to smectic-A transition in thin liquid-crystal films. Physical Review A 41(8): 4326-4334. Full Text & Related Files: Amador_Light-scattering.pdf (1.631Mb; PDF) Abstract: Ellipsometry and light-scattering measurements are presented for the critical region near the two-dimensional XY-like smectic-C to smectic-A phase transition in thin, freely suspended films of the liquid crystal p-decyloxybenzylidene p-aminocinnamaic acid 2-methylbutyl ester. The macro-scopically observed smectic-C tilt order parameter was found to obey a scaling relation as a function of temperature and film thickness, indicating that only the surface layers order over a wide range of temperatures. Deep within the smectic-C phase, the tilt order parameters for all thickness films measured converged upon a unique value at which the smectic-C to smectic-I transition took place. The light-scattering intensities and decay times above the smectic-C to smectic-A transition were found to scale with the Kosterlitz-Thouless correlation length, as predicted by dynamical theories of the transition. Measurements of the predicted Nelson-Kosterlitz universal jump in $$\theta$$ concurred with estimates for the bulk material parameters and with the light-scattering results. Published Version: doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.41.4326 Other Sources: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9903626 Terms of Use: This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA Citable link to this page: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10357458 Downloads of this work: