Layer thinning transition in an achiral four-ring hockey stick shaped liquid crystal

Manoj Kr. Paul School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Chemistry, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam, IndiaCorrespondence[email protected]

Rahul K. Nath Department of Chemistry, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam, India

Brian Moths School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

LiDong Pan School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

Shun Wang School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

Rajdeep Deb Department of Chemistry, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam, India

Yongqiang Shen Department of Physics, Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO-80309, USA

Nandiraju V.S. Rao Department of Chemistry, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam, India

C.C. Huang School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

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Abstract

Depolarized reflected light microscopy and high resolution optical reflectivity measurements have been conducted on free-standing films of an achiral four-ring hockey stick shaped liquid crystal exhibiting SmA-B2–SmX* transition sequence. A layer thinning transition above the bulk isotropic-SmA phase transition has been observed. This behaviour was highly irreproducible, indicating an irregular layer thinning transition. From optical reflectivity data, both thickness of the free-standing films and the smectic interlayer spacing were determined. This is the first report of the layer thinning transition in a hockey stick shaped liquid crystal.

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Acknowledgements

M.K. Paul, a BOYSCAST fellow, thanks the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi for his fellowship. This study was supported in part by Fast Track Project (DST) Grant no. SR/FTP/CS-43/2006 and National Science Foundation, Solid State Chemistry Program under Grant no. 0605760. Financial assistance provided by DST, DAE and UGC is gratefully acknowledged.

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Layer thinning transition in an achiral four-ring hockey stick shaped liquid crystal

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