Surface-induced multiple reentrant transitions

Abstract

We have studied tilted surface layers in the bulk SmA temperature window of one liquid crystal using null transmission ellipsometry. Five distinct nonplanar surface structures were observed. We present analyses of the tilt and azimuthal profiles of the structures and examine the transitions between the structures. The transitions are identified as a double reentrant synclinic-anticlinic-synclinic-anticlinic transition. Meanwhile, the transitions also display reentrant ferroelectric-antiferroelectric-ferroelectric behavior.