Structures and orientational transitions in thin films of tilted hexatic smectics

We present detailed systematic studies of structural transformations in thin liquid crystal films with the smectic-C to hexatic phase transition. For the first time all possible structures reported in the literature are observed for one material (5 O.6) at the variation of temperature and thickness. In unusual modulated structures the equilibrium period of stripes is twice with respect to the domain size. We interpret these patterns in the frame work of phenomenological Landau type theory, as equilibrium phenomena produced by a natural geometric frustration in a system having spontaneous splay distortion.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Dislocation loops in overheated free-standing smectic films

Static and dynamic phenomena in overheated free-standing smectic-A films are studied using a generalization of de Gennes' theory for a confined presmectic liquid. A static application is to determine the profile of the film meniscus and the meniscus contact angle, the results being compared with those of a recent study employing de Gennes' original theory. The dynamical generalization of the theory is based on on a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach. This is used to compare two modes for layer-thinning transitions in overheated films, namely "uniform thinning" vs. nucleation of dislocation loops. Properties such as the line tension and velocity of a moving dislocation line are evaluated self-consistently by the theory.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Current-carrying capability of GdBa2Cu3O7-x HTSC tapes in magnetic fields in the temperatute range of 2-100 K

International audienceThe current-carrying capability of the second-generation HTSC tapes based on GdBa2Cu3O7-x (GdBCO), produced by the SuperOx Company by the pulsed laser deposition method is studied. Critical currents inmagnetic fields aremeasured by resistive andmagnetic (using a SQUID magnetometer) methods. The results obtained are compared with characteristics of an YBCO tape grown by chemical deposition (SuperPower, USA)

Current-carrying capability of GdBa2Cu3O7-x HTSC tapes in magnetic fields in the temperatute range of 2-100 K

International audienceThe current-carrying capability of the second-generation HTSC tapes based on GdBa2Cu3O7-x (GdBCO), produced by the SuperOx Company by the pulsed laser deposition method is studied. Critical currents inmagnetic fields aremeasured by resistive andmagnetic (using a SQUID magnetometer) methods. The results obtained are compared with characteristics of an YBCO tape grown by chemical deposition (SuperPower, USA)

Coexisting nematic and smectic A phases in a twisted liquid crystal cell

Twisted homogeneously planar-aligned nematic liquid-crystal cells are cooled into the smectic- A phase. The expected defective structure does not form. Instead the cells still show good optical-guiding characteristics. Exploration of the cells using a half-leaky guided-mode arrangement reveals that the liquid-crystal phase separates into three or more regions. Adjacent to both the upper and lower boundaries is a region of highly twisted nematic liquid crystal. In the center of the cell is one or more homogeneous smectic- A regions with smectic layers normal to the cell surfaces, separated by twisted nematic. As the cell is cooled so the smectic- A regions grow in thickness with the nematic regions progressively thinning but with increased twist gradient. A theoretical model of these novel results is presented