Eur. Phys. J. E 3, 29-35 (2000)
DOI: 10.1007/PL00013673

Optical properties of the locally anisotropic liquid L-phase in a chiral anticlinic liquid crystal series

J.P. Marcerou¹, R. Farhi², J.C. Rouillon¹ and H.T. Nguyen<sup>1

1</sup>  Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, CNRS-UPR8641, Avenue A. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
²  Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Université de Picardie, 33 rue Saint-Leu, 80039, Amiens, France

robert.farhi@sc.u-picardie.fr

(Received 20 December 1999 and Received in final form 6 March 2000)

Abstract
Optical Rotatory Power (ORP) measurements and Raman scattering experiments have been performed in various compounds of the nCTBB9 chiral series, which displays a locally anisotropic liquid phase referred to as "L-phase". The ORP results are very reminiscent of the behaviour theoretically predicted for the Blue Phase III-to-Isotropic transition, close to and above the critical point in the temperature-chirality phase diagram. It is suggested however, considering both the Raman scattering results and the high stability of smectic phases in this series, that the supercritical state should be characterized by both chiral and smectic order with short correlation lengths.

PACS
64.70.Md - Transitions in liquid crystals.
78.20.Ek - Optical activity.
78.30.-j - Infrared and Raman spectra.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2000