1. smectic - Noun
2. smectic - Adjective
(rare) Cleansing.
(rare) Astringent; detergent.
(chemistry, physics) Describing a class of liquid crystals whose molecules are aligned in layers, with the molecules lying perpendicular to the plane of the layers.
smectic (plural smectics)
A liquid crystal having the molecules aligned in this way.
Chiral smectic liquid crystals are used in ferroelectric LCDs which are fast-switching binary light modulators. Source: Internet
For a perfect nematic and for a smectic phase will take on complex values. Source: Internet
For instance, on heating a particular type of LC molecule (called mesogen ) may exhibit various smectic phases followed by the nematic phase and finally the isotropic phase as temperature is increased. Source: Internet
The smectic phases, which are found at lower temperatures than the nematic, form well-defined layers that can slide over one another in a manner similar to that of soap. Source: Internet
In the smectic C* phase (an asterisk denotes a chiral phase), the molecules have positional ordering in a layered structure (as in the other smectic phases), with the molecules tilted by a finite angle with respect to the layer normal. Source: Internet
The complex nature of this order parameter allows for many parallels between nematic to smectic phase transitions and conductor to superconductor transitions. Source: Internet