Surface tension measurements in freely suspended bubbles of thermotropic smectic liquid crystals

Abstract

We present an experimental technique for the inflation of freely suspended films of thermotropic smectic liquid crystals to macroscopic bubbles. These bubbles have many properties in common with well known lyotropic soap bubbles, but on the other hand represent a completely different class of material with different physical properties and new phenomena. We describe the generation of such smectic bubbles and compare their physical properties with those of lyotropic soap bubbles. The measurement of inner pressure versus curvature is used for the determination of surface tensions of the smectic materials.