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arXiv · cond-mat/0307149

Smectic blue phases: layered systems with high intrinsic curvature

B. A. DiDonna·Randall D. Kamien
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Abstract

We report on a construction for smectic blue phases, which have quasi-long range smectic translational order as well as three dimensional crystalline order. Our proposed structures fill space by adding layers on top of a minimal surface, introducing either curvature or edge defects as necessary. We find that for the right range of material parameters, the favorable saddle-splay energy of these structures can stabilize them against uniform layered structures. We also consider the nature of curvature frustration between mean curvature and saddle-splay.

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B. A. DiDonna, Randall D. Kamien. 2003-07-07. Smectic blue phases: layered systems with high intrinsic curvature. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.68.041703

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