Structures of chiral smectic-C mesophases revealed by polarization-analyzed resonant x-ray scattering

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.60.6793· OSTI ID:20217800

Mach, P ^[1]; Pindak, R ^[2]; Levelut, A -M ^[3]; Barois, P ^[4]; Nguyen, H T ^[4]; Baltes, H ^[2]; Hird, M ^[5]; Toyne, K ^[5]; Seed, A ^[5]; Goodby, J W ^[5]

---

1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 (United States)
2. Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974 (United States)
3. Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Universite Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, (France)
4. Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, CNRS, Universite Bordeaux I, Avenue A. Schweitzer, F-33600 Pessac, (France)
5. School of Chemistry, The University, Hull HU6 7RX, (United Kingdom)

We report polarization-analyzed, resonant x-ray diffraction at the sulfur K edge performed upon free-standing liquid-crystal films. Our studies of the thiobenzoate liquid-crystal enantiomer 10OTBBB1M7 yield the polarization states of resonant satellite peaks arising from characteristic superlattices in the chiral smectic-C (SmC{sup *}) variant phases, including the antiferroelectric SmC{sub A}{sup *}, ferrielectric SmC{sub FI1}{sup *} and SmC{sub FI2}{sup *}, as well as SmC{sub {alpha}}{sup *}. The observed polarizations agree with the clock model of chiral smectic-C variants, and rule out other proposals made to date for these structures. Data from the 10OTBBB1M7 racemate also support the clock model. Our resonant diffraction results from a thiophene liquid-crystal compound reveal the same superlattice periodicities seen in corresponding antiferroelectric and ferrielectric phases of 10OTBBB1M7. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.

• OSTI ID: 20217800
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 60; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANTIFERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
CHIRALITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
POLARIZATION
SUPERLATTICES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION