Chiral symmetry breaking in three-dimensional smectic-[Formula Presented] liquid-crystal domains

Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

Volumn 56, Issue 5, 1997, Pages R4935-R4938

  Pramod, P A ^a   Hatwalne, Yashodhan ^a   Madhusudana, N V ^a  

^a RAMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE   (India)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 4243382950     PISSN: 1063651X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.56.R4935     Document Type: Article

References (17)

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15. The orientational order parameter (Formula presented) can be expected to vary sharply over a coherence length ξ (typically a few molecular lengths) at the (Formula presented)–Sm-(Formula presented) interface. This gives rise to an order-electric polarization (Formula presented) where (Formula presented) is the relevant coupling coefficient, and an electric field (Formula presented) normal to the interface, where ε is the appropriate dielectric constant. The bend distortion in the (Formula presented) field generates a flexoelectric polarization (Formula presented) where (Formula presented) is the radius of the cylinder and for simplicity we have used the same coefficient (Formula presented) If the mutual orientation between (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) is favorable, the gain in energy per unit length of the cylinder (Formula presented) (Formula presented) The bend distortion costs an energy per unit length (Formula presented) where (Formula presented) is an elastic constant and (Formula presented) the core radius. Using the values (in cgs units) (Formula presented) (Formula presented) (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) there is a net gain in energy up to (Formula presented) μm if the (Formula presented) field has a bend distortion.
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