NMR in chiral and achiral smectic phases: Structure, orientational order and dynamics

Various Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques, the use of various nuclei both in enriched samples and in abundance are investigated. The success of NMR in the field of liquid crystals is based on its stability to give detailed, site specific information information on the molecular orientation and ordering as well as on the molecular rotational, translational and collective dynamics. NMR can provide additional information on the structure and organization of mesophases. The NMR spectra allow the changes in order and organization at the phase transitions, the inclination of directors in tilted phases, the formation of re-entrant, frustated and crystal phases, in multiphasic liquid crystals. The effects of the magnetic fields of various strengths can be revealed since NMR spectroscopy is performed using magnetic fields.