Strong Order Parameter Fluctuations in the Vicinity of Para-Ferroelectric Transition

Abstract

In this work the results of DSC calorimetry and dielectric studies of 3-(2-fluoroctyloxy)-6-(4octyl-phenyl) pyridine (in short FOOPP) are presented. It is interesting that the soft mode gives the largest contribution to the dielectric spectrum in the vicinity of the SmA* -SmC* transition. Additionally, the intensity of the Goldstone mode in the SmC* phase is much smaller than that of the soft mode. Such behaviour indicates that for the substance studied the SmA* phase is so-called de Vries phase.

Keywords:

• de Vries phase
• Goldstone mode
• soft mode
• hexatic phase
• order fluctuations

Acknowledgments

Three of us (S.W., A.M. and M.M.) would like to thank the State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN) for financial support in scope of the grant No. 1 P03B 056 28. A.M. acknowledges financial support of the Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale during her stay in Calais.