P. M. Johnson

Determination of symmetry and molecular arrangements of free-standing liquid crystal films using null-transmission ellipsometry

A high resolution null-transmission ellipsometry system has been developed for measurement of the optical properties of liquid crystal free-standing films. The ellipsometric parameters are measured to within a resolution of 0.002° from samples held in a sealed, temperature-controlled environment. By measuring the ellipsometric parameters as a function of applied electric field orientation, the optical symmetry and molecular orientations of free-standing liquid crystal films can be determined in some cases. Three carefully selected applications of this technique are presented.

Critical heat capacity at the smectic A-smectic C transition in a partially fluorinated liquid crystal

A high resolution a.c. calorimetric study of a phenyl pyrimidine derivative with one alkyl and one perfluorinated end group shows that the excess heat capacity associated with the smectic A-smectic C transition exhibits critical fluctuation behaviour that is consistent with the three-dimensional XY universality class. This is in contrast to the usual mean-field SmA-SmC behaviour and the near tricritical fluctuation behaviour reported recently in several other compounds. It is speculated that smaller than usual correlation lengths are the cause for the wide fluctuation region in this compound.