Fig. 2.

Sample preparation and optical structures with/without confined geometry. (A) In the planar aligned cell, the B7 smectic phase shows various kinds of domain morphology. (B) LC is filled in the silicon channels with 5 μm depth and 5 μm width, and the x-, y-, and z-direction is defined. (C) The confined B7 phase shows beautiful periodic optical textures. Clear dependence of the texture on polarizer orientation can be seen by rotating the sample, giving important information on molecular orientation. White letters indicate the rotating angle.