Study of thin smectic A samples by a photoacoustic technique

Abstract

First we recall some experimental results about phase transitions in a thermotropic liquid crystal investigated by means of a photoacoustic technique. Then this paper examines the photoacoustic signal as a function of the sample thickness and the modulation frequency for rear-surface illumination of the smectic A sample. The results are consistent with the McDonald and Wetsel model and lead to the determination of thermal diffusivity.