Interfacial energy smectic phases

In smectic hquid crystals it is again possible to observe both types of interactions. Overlap of pre-smectically ordered interfacial regions gives rise to the oscillatory structural force, presented in Sect. 3.1.6 and if the coupling energy between the smectic order and surface is very strong, the liquid crystal in the gap beteen the surfaces condenses into a smectic phase, as discussed in Sect. 3.1.7). 

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