Abstract
We have performed an X-ray scattering study of the nematic-smectic A and reentrant nematic-smectic A phase transitions in N-[(4-n-octyloxybenzoyloxy)-salicilidene]-4′-cyanoaniline (OOBOSCA). A diffractometer with a linear position sensitive detector was used. The results show that the smectic phase in OOBOSCA is of the Ad type with an interlayer spacing incommensurate with the molecular length L; d ∽ 1·2L. In the reentrant nematic phase two types of fluctuation modes were found. One of them corresponds to the monolayer wavevector q 1 ∽ 2π/L, and the other is due to the partial bilayer fluctuations with the wavevector q 2 ∽ 0·8q 1. The temperature dependences of the interlayer spacing, X-ray scattering intensity and longitudinal correlation length for both types of layering in the reentrant nematic phase are presented. The change of the fluctuation regime from SAd, to SCd type with decreasing temperature in the reentrant nematic phase of OOBOSCA was found. The results are discussed on the basis of models with competing order parameters. The influence of alkyl chain flexibility on the stability of a partial bilayer smectic phase is also considered.