This tribute is dedicated to Dr Milada Glogarová on the occasion of her important anniversary. Milada finished her studies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University in 1964. Then she started to work in the Department of Ferroelectrics (later Dielectrics) of the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences in Prague. To begin with, she studied the domain structure of BaTiO3 and TGS (triglycine sulphate) and then the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of langbeinites. The results of her latter studies were summarized in her PhD thesis in 1975. During the 70s, she investigated domains and their dynamics in TGS by covering TGS samples with a nematic liquid crystal which played the role of a display revealing domains of opposite polarization. This experience with nematic liquid crystals and the synthesis of first ferroelectric liquid crystal DOBAMBC in 1978 led Milada to devote her scientific interests to the investigation of the dielectric and structure properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals. In the 80s, she began the texture investigations of DOBAMBC and chiralized smectic C liquid crystals, and proposed the explanation of switching using the model of twist disclinations. Together with her co-workers in the Department of Dielectrics, she established a small group specializing in the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of polar liquid crystals. The results obtained by her group were awarded the Prize of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in 1985. During the 90s, she also initiated the syntheses of new liquid crystalline materials in the Chemical Department of the Institute of Physics so that the capacities of the Liquid Crystal Group increased. Since then, her fruitful collaboration with the chemists V. Hamplová and M. Kašpar has continued.
Political changes in 1989 allowed her in the early 90s to broaden the international collaboration of the Prague liquid crystal group with other liquid crystal groups, namely in Poland, France, Germany, Italy, etc. At the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, another group synthesizing liquid crystals was created and, naturally, established collaboration with Milada's group in order to characterize the physical properties of their new materials.
The last 20 years have been devoted to studies of liquid crystals’ physical properties, e.g., the problem of in-plane modulation in free-standing films, frustrated ferroelectric (FE)–antiferroelectric (AF) phases, hexatic FE and AF phases or finding a rare re-entrant FE phase. Besides chiral rod-like mesogens, her interest spread to materials composed of bent-shaped (banana-like) molecules, which can exhibit both FE and AF phases even for non-chiral substances.
As well as her research activities, she was also engaged in organizational functions either in the Academic Assembly of the Czech Academy of Sciences or in the Institute of Physics, where she was a member of the Scientific Council (2000–2007), Head of the Condensed Matter Section of the Institute of Physics, vice-director of the Institute of Physics (2001–2007) and member of the Council of the Institute of Physics (2007–present). Her wide scope of knowledge over the field of liquid crystals qualified her for the function of an editor of the journal Liquid Crystals; she was active in this function for a period of five years. Among other activities on the international field, let us mention her membership of the NATO Scientific Committee (2001–2006).
Milada is one of the leading personalities in the field of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid crystals. Her experimental skill, deep insight into the physics of liquid crystals and the ability to formulate pertinent new problems for the advance of research has been much appreciated by her co-workers and students. Now, as active as ever, she is always open to help anybody with valuable advice based on her profound understanding of both science and human nature.
The papers included in this issue of Phase Transitions have been written by highly recognised scientists in the field of liquid crystals with whom Milada has had working contacts, either in the past or in recent years. As Milada's collaborators and friends, we wish to express our gratitude and appreciation of her friendship and stimulation of our own research.
Guest Editors
Ewa Gorecka
Vladimíra Novotná
Lubor Lejček
Prague, Czech Republic
October 2012