Martin, Stephen2009-04-172009-04-172009-04-08https://hdl.handle.net/11299/49061Additional contributors: LiDong Pan, Shun Wang, and C. C. Huang (faculty mentor), School of Physics and AstronomyRecent experiments have identified a smooth transition from smectic-C*[alpha1] to smectic-C*[alpha2] in mixtures of some liquid crystalline compounds. However, phenomenological theories implementing only short-range interactions have predicted the intervention of smectic-C*[FI2] in this transition. Using a parameterized free-energy model, this smooth transition in smectic-C*[alpha] is rationalized by variation of three interaction parameters independently in a computer simulation. A phase diagram characterizing the results of our simulation is presented.en-USPhysicsInstitute of TechnologySchool of Physics and AstronomyPresentation