Smectic A-Smectic B interface : faceting and surface free energy measurement

Abstract
We have observed the equilibrium shape of a Smectic B monodomain in contact with a Smectic A phase and how a grain boundary deforms the Smectic B-Smectic A interface in the presence of a temperature gradient. The chosen material is the 40.8 (butyloxybenzilidene octylaniline). By using the Wulff construction and the T.L.K. model, we calculate both the surface free energy of a facet parallel to the layers and the free energy of a ledge. The existence of faces of forbidden orientations is also shown. In accord with the theoretical predictions of Herring, we observe that such a face is always unstable with respect to the formation of a hill-and-valley structure

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