FREE-ENERGY BARRIERS FOR INTERLAYER DIFFUSION IN THE SMECTIC-A PHASE OF HARD SPHEROCYLINDERS

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.