Dislocation loops in overheated free-standing smectic films
Abstract
Static and dynamic phenomena in overheated free-standing smectic-A films are studied using a generalization of de Gennes' theory for a confined presmectic liquid. A static application is to determine the profile of the film meniscus and the meniscus contact angle, the results being compared with those of a recent study employing de Gennes' original theory. The dynamical generalization of the theory is based on on a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach. This is used to compare two modes for layer-thinning transitions in overheated films, namely "uniform thinning" vs. nucleation of dislocation loops. Properties such as the line tension and velocity of a moving dislocation line are evaluated self-consistently by the theory.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0110249,
title = {Dislocation loops in overheated free-standing smectic films},
author = {A. N. Shalaginov and D. E. Sullivan},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0110249},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
16 pages, 8 figures