Physics and Astronomy Calendar

Using a series of binary mixtures, we have determined the dependence of the phase sequence upon doping for two compounds with similar chemical structures but inverted phase sequences in one of the pure compounds. The SmC_FI2 phase is favored over the SmC phase on both sides of the mixing phase diagram. In two of these binary mixtures, we observed a reentrant SmC_FI2-SmC-SmC_FI2 transition. Resonant x-ray diffraction identifies the SmC_FI2 phase below SmC and null transmission ellipsometry shows that the phases on either side of SmC have the same structure. The reentrant transition only occurs in thin films.