Optical studies of the smectic-C(*)(alpha) phase layer structure in free-standing films

The layer structure of the smectic-C(*)(alpha) phase of one liquid-crystal compound has been acquired from both differential optical reflectivity and ellipsometry measurements in the free-standing film geometry. The data from both techniques display characteristic oscillations as a function of temperature, which can be described by a model for the film consisting of surface anticlinic layers and an interior short-pitched azimuthal helix. These results are consistent with those found previously for another compound. Depolarized reflected light microscopy is used to study the films when the unique features of the aforementioned oscillations occur.