Université Bordeaux 1, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Avenue A. Schweitzer F-33600 Pessac, France.
Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Mar 18;106(11):117802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.117802.
Using optical microscopy, phase shifting interferometry, and atomic force microscopy, we characterize the undulated structures which appear in the meniscus of freestanding ferroelectric smectic-C* films. We demonstrate that these periodic structures correspond to undulations of the smectic-air interface. The resulting striped pattern disappears in the untilted smectic-A phase. The modulation amplitude and wavelength of the instability both depend on meniscus thickness. We study the temperature evolution and propose a model that qualitatively accounts for the observations.
我们使用光学显微镜、相移干涉测量法和原子力显微镜来描述自由-standing 铁电近晶 C* 膜的弯月面中出现的起伏结构。我们证明了这些周期性结构对应于近晶-空气界面的起伏。在未倾斜的近晶 A 相，所得的条纹图案消失。不稳定性的调制幅度和波长都取决于弯月面厚度。我们研究了温度演化并提出了一个定性解释观察结果的模型。
