Orientational melting of low chains of molecules and nature of the nematic-smectic A phase transition
Aver'yanov E. M., Adomenas P. V., Zhuikov V. A., Zyryanov V. Ya.
An orientational melting of the end fragments of flexible molecular chains has been observed in a transition from the nematic phase to the smectic A phase of a liquid crystal This melting has a strong effect on the interaction of the order parameters of these phases and on the localization of the tricritical point on the nematic-(smectic .4) transition line.