Nonparabolic Dendrites of a Smectic Phase Growing into a Supercooled Nematic

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Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation Á Buka and N. Éber 1993 EPL 21 477 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/21/4/016

0295-5075/21/4/477

Abstract

The interface of a growing smectic phase in a supercooled nematic liquid crystal was studied. A change in the morphology and the side-branching activity was observed with the undercooling. Nonparabolic dendrites with faceted dissymmetric tips were found for small undercooling. The equilibrium shape of the smectic germ was a rectangle. A drifting of the smectic objects was observed. The starting tip velocities obey the scaling relation vs ∼ Δ4.

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10.1209/0295-5075/21/4/016