Surface tension of several liquid-crystal compounds in the smectic-A or smectic-Ad phase

Abstract

After implementing a computer-enhanced imaging system in our newly established apparatus, we have achieved much higher resolution in measuring the surface tension of free-standing films in the smectic-A or smectic-Ad phase of seven different liquid-crystal compounds. The experimental results reveal two salient features: the relation of surface tension to thickness and the difference in surface tension between the smectic-A and smectic-Ad phases.