Molecular ordering in the smectic-Ephase in the molecular-field approximation

The smectic-B to smectic-E transition is discussed in terms of an orientational intermolecular potential recently suggested by Meyer. Within the framework of the molecular-field approximation the transition temperature is obtained from the lowest eigenvalue of an Hermitian matrix, and the ordered state below it is described by the corresponding eigenvector. A condition is found for which the experimentally observed herringbone structure is the most stable one.