Light-Scattering Study of the Dynamical Behavior of Ordering just above the Phase Transition to a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal

Abstract

Rayleigh light scattering was observed with photon-counting techniques in the isotropic phase of cholesteryl 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl carbonate just above the transition temperature to a cholesteric liquid crystal. Both the temperature and wave-vector dependences of linewidth and intensity were measured. The data are in good agreement with the dynamical behavior of short-range order described by an extension of the Landau-de Gennes theory. Bragg-interference fringes due to sizable cholesteric-type ordering were observed in the isotropic phase near the transition point.