Light scattering during surface melting of diphenyl; possible formation of a surface liquid-crystal phase
Chernov A. A. , Yakovlev V. A.
Light scattering has been discovered in a molten film which is becoming thicker on the surface of a crystal as the melting point of the crystal is approached from below. The scattering by (001) and (010) faces of diphenyl is at a maximum for supercoolings LT~LTC, where the dependence of the film thickness on the supercooling changes from logarithmic to power-law. It is suggested that although a bulk melt is isotropic, a film is a liquid crystal at Δ Τ > Δ Tc and undergoes a phase transition at Δ Γ = Δ Tc.