Disclinations and ovals in the Smectic B and E phases

Near to the clearing temperature the formation of the texture of a B phase was investigated. The growth of the B phase is beginning with germs, in shape similar to 2π‐disclinations whic some tenths of a degree below the clearing temperature dissociate to a system of two π‐disclinations. At further lowering the temperature, the latter change to the ovals which contain a set of wedge like material with plane smectic layers. By a competition of surface free energy and elastic free energy the sequence of textures can be explained theoretically.