Undulation instability in the meniscus of Smectic-C films
By: Pedro Patrício
From: CFTC
At: Complexo Interdisciplinar, Anfiteatro
[2009-10-28]
We describe the symmetry structures of Smectic-A and Smectic-C liquid crystals and the beautiful de Gennes-theory that accounts for them. We review the known physical mechanisms that shape the meniscus of isotropic fluids and Smectic-A films. We report experimental observations showing the undulations of the meniscus in Smectic-C films. We propose possible explanations for this exotic and apparently useless phenomenon.