Undulation instabilities in the meniscus of smectic membranes
Condensed Matter journal club
Undulation instabilities in the meniscus of smectic membranes
- Event time: 11:30am
- Event date: 17th December 2010
- Speaker: Professor Paul Clegg (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Location: Room 2511, James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Abstract
Using optical microscopy, phase shifting interferometry and atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate the existence of undulated structures in the meniscus of ferroelectric smectic-C* films. The meniscus is characterized by a periodic undulation of the smectic-air interface, which manifests itself in a striped pattern. The instability disappears in the untilted smectic-A phase. The modulation amplitude and wavelength both depend on meniscus thickness. We study the temperature evolution of the structure and propose a simple model that accounts for the observed undulations.Archive Version (submitted to PRL)
Authors
J. C. Loudet, P. V. Dolganov, P. Patricio, H. Saadaoui, P. Cluzeau
About Condensed Matter journal club
Given the diversity of research in the CM group, chosen topics vary widely. We tend to stick to high-impact journals - Nature, Science, PNAS and PRL have been popular - but this is not prescriptive..