Analogy between periodic patterns in thin smectic liquid crystal films and the intermediate state of superconductors [Physics]
Spontaneous breaking of symmetry in liquid crystal (LC) films often reveals itself as a microscopic pattern of molecular alignment. In a smectic-A LC, the emergence of positional order at the transition from the nematic phase leads to periodic textures that can be used as optical microarrays, templates for soft lithography,...
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - Category: Science Authors: Bruno Zappone, Atilla Eren Mamuk, Iryna Gryn, Valentina Arima, Alessandra Zizzari, Roberto Bartolino, Emmanuelle Lacaze, Rolfe Petschek Tags: Physical Sciences Source Type: research