2024-03-29T00:24:48Zhttps://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace-oai/requestoai:eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp:2115/507682022-11-17T02:08:08Zhdl_2115_20045hdl_2115_139Optical Characterization of a Nanoscale Incommensurate Pitch in a New Liquid-Crystal PhaseCady, A.Han, X.Olson, D.Orihara, HiroshiHuang, C.Liquid crystalsSoft-condensed matterSmectic-Cα* phase428As a remarkable orientationally ordered soft-condensed matter system, the smectic-Cα* phase exhibits an incommensurate nanoscale helical pitch of more than four smectic layers. Recent theoretical advances predict the existence of a new phase showing a helical pitch of less than four smectic layers (<16 nm). By applying a novel optical technique to the study of freestanding films with increments in thickness of one smectic layer, we have measured the size of this pitch using 633 nm HeNe laser light. Our results confirm the existence of the newly predicted phase in one unique compound.APSJournal Articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/2115/50768https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/50768/1/Phys.%20Rev.%20Lett.%2091%2c%20125502.pdf0031-90071079-7114AA00773679Physical Review Letters9112125502-1125502-42003-09enginfo:doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.125502© 2003 American Physical Societypublisher