Periodic structures on liquid-phase smectic A, nematic and isotropic free surfaces.

The free boundary of smectic A (SmA), nematic and isotropic liquid phases were studied using a polarized optical microscope, an interferometric surface structure analyzer (ISSA), an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). Images of the SmA phase free surface obtained by the polarized microscope and ISSA are in good correlation and show a well-known focal domain structure. The new periodic stripe structure was observed by scanning near-field optical microscopy on the surface of the smectic A, nematic and isotropic phases.

Nanoprofilometry study of focal conic domain structures in a liquid crystalline free surface.

This work presents the first high-resolution nanoprofilometry study consisting of nanoscale resolution surface profile measurements and high-quality visualization of a the free surface of a liquid crystal-air boundary. The capabilities of this new experimental method, as applied for liquid crystal free boundaries, are discussed. The formation of focal conic domain structures at the smectic-A-air free boundary was detected and studied.

Charge Radii of Neutron Deficient ^{52,53}Fe Produced by Projectile Fragmentation.

Bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy is performed on neutron deficient ^{52,53}Fe prepared through in-flight separation followed by a gas stopping. This novel scheme is a major step to reach nuclides far from the stability line in laser spectroscopy. Differential mean-square charge radii δ⟨r^{2}⟩ of ^{52,53}Fe are determined relative to stable ^{56}Fe as δ⟨r^{2}⟩^{56,52}=-0.