A Gallery of Meniscus Patterns of Free-Standing Smectic Films

作者:Harth Kirsten*; Eremin Alexey; Stannarius Ralf
来源:Ferroelectrics, 2012, 431(1): 59-73.
DOI:10.1080/00150193.2012.684630

摘要

Spontaneously formed stripe patterns covering the menisci of free-standing smectic films have been described already about 40 years ago, but there was no comprehensive optical investigation of their textures so far. Recently, atomic force microscopy, interferometry and polarised light microscopy studies have cast doubts at their classical interpretation as surface-splay induced domains. That interpretation is not able to explain several basic features of the striped domains. Here, we review some characteristic properties of the stripe domains and related patterns, i.e. textures that decorate regions with film thickness gradients. We discuss changes during phase transitions of the smectic films to collect information on the complex internal structure of the observed patterns.

  • 出版日期2012