Light transmission measurements in the liquid crystal SmC* phase of DOBAMBC at normal incidence

Abstract

We present measurements of the light transmission of homeotropic smectic C* samples (DOBAMBC) at normal incidence as a function of temperature for different thicknesses in the whole spectral region where selective reflection occurs. Assuming that the transmission dip is a result of Bragg reflection, we obtain the temperature dependence of the pitch. The calculations of the reflection and transmission spectra using the 4 x 4 characteristic matrix showed good agreement between measured and calculated quantities