Two New Topologically Ordered Glass Phases of Smectics Confined in Anisotropic Random Media
Two New Topologically Ordered Glass Phases of Smectics Confined in Anisotropic Random Media
We show that smectic liquid crystals confined in_anisotropic_ porous structures such as e.g.,_strained_ aerogel or aerosil exhibit two new glassy phases. The strain both ensures the stability of these phases and determines their nature. One type of strain induces an ``XY Bragg glass'', while the other creates a novel, triaxially …