Consequences of bond-orientational order on the macroscopic orientation patterns of thin tilted hexatic liquid crystal films.

Using polarized laser reflection microscopy, unique textural defects have been observed in thin tilted hexatic liquid crystal films which result from their bond orientational order. The temperature dependence of the bond orientational elasticity can be deduced from these textural patterns and is in qualitative agreement with the theory of two-dimensional (2D) melting. 

The effects of molecular chirality and film thickness on the defect textures and phase behavior is also reported along with observations on the polygonalization of the 2D crystalline phase.