A Novel Method for Measuring Compression Constants in Smectics

Abstract

This article considers a refined analysis of the Helfrich–Hurault effect in smectic A when the layer normal a and the director n need not coincide. We demonstrate that the Helfrich-Hurault transition threshold decreases as a and n decouple. The dependence of this transition upon the elastic coupling constant B 1 is discussed and its qualitative universal influence upon the reduced threshold is depicted. The implications for the measurement of compression and coupling constants is discussed.