Js. Vanduijneveldt et Mp. Allen, FREE-ENERGY BARRIERS FOR INTERLAYER DIFFUSION IN THE SMECTIC-A PHASE OF HARD SPHEROCYLINDERS, Molecular physics, 90(2), 1997, pp. 243-250
Computer simulations are used to investigate the recent prediction (R.
van Roij et al., 1995, Phys. Rev., E52, R1277) of transverse interlay
er order in the smectic-A phase of hard spherocylinders. For short rod
s, and dose to the melting point of the smectic-A phase, a fraction of
about one per cent of the particles are in the transverse interlayer
state. For longer rods and further away from the melting transition a
much lower fraction is found. Possible implications for interlayer dif
fusion and end-over-end rotational diffusion are discussed.