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Abstract
X-ray scattering is used to probe the smectic order in octylcyanobiphenyl partially confined between a free surface and a microgrooved glass substrate. It is found that the smectic order develops 6 K above the bulk nematic to smectic-A transition with layer spacing compressed up to 3% under a lateral confinement within the grooves. This lateral confinement is released as the thickness of the film above the grooves increases.