Title:	Unusual patterns in the growth of smectic liquid crystals
Authors:	Pratibha, R. Basappa, Geetha Madhusudana, N.V.
Keywords:	Smectic A Smectic C Liquid Crystals
Issue Date:	1995
Publisher:	Transactions of Technical Publications, Swrtzerland
Citation:	Key Engineering Materials, 1995, Vol.103, p27-38
Abstract:	Smectic liquid crystals have a layered arrangement of rod-like organic molecules. In the smectic A phase the average orientation direction of the molecules is parallel to the layer normal while in the smectic C, it is at an oblique angle. Usually when smectic A liquid crystals separate from the isotropic phase, they do so in the form of short rod-like structures called "batonnets" which are made of focal conic domains. It is now known that the batonnets arise because of the positive interfacial tension anisotropy γ11 - γ1 of the smectic, in which the subscripts refer to directions ~arallel and perpendicular to the layer normal.In the present article we summarise our recent studies on some binary systems in which γ11 - γl is negative, leading to some unusual structures like highly elongated cylinders which are stabilised by concentration gradients. We find other novel structures like discs, and 'ink-bottles' etc, when the interfacial tension anisotropy changes sign during the growth of smectics. In the smectic C phase, we find additional dynamics when the cylinders grow; soliton-like objects are generated at one end and propagate along the cylinder to the other end. Further, the cylinders as a whole have physical locomotion as they grow from the isotropic phase. We discuss the results in terms of simple physical models.
Description:	Restricted Access.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/3109
Copyright:	1995 Transactions of Technical Publications, Swrtzerland
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (SCM)

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