We present optical and dielectric measurements in the smectic-C(*)(alpha) (SmC(*)(alpha)) phase of three homologues of an alkoxy benzoate series. Two different behaviors are observed depending on the values and the temperature evolution of the azimuthal angle difference alpha between two adjacent layers. For moderate values of alpha, the Goldstone mode is predominant over the whole SmC(*)(alpha) phase. For large values of alpha, we can distinguish the soft mode near the SmA*-SmC(*)(alpha) phase transition and the Goldstone mode at lower temperatures. In this case, discontinuities are also observed at the SmC(*)(alpha)-SmA* phase transition. These dielectric features are correlated with optical properties using simulations based on the discrete phenomenological "clock model."
Laboratoire d'Etude des Matériaux et des Composants pour l'ELectronique, EA 2601, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, 50 Rue Ferdinand Buisson, B.P. 717, 62228 Calais, France.
