Interlayer structure of thin smectic films from their x-ray diffraction patterns

The theory of x-ray diffraction for smectic-A films is presented. The effect of the smectic layer fluctuations and correlations and the molecular form factor on the interlayer structure and the x-ray diffraction pattern is discussed. The application of the presented theory to smectic-C, smectic-I, smectic-Ad, and smectic-A₂ films is suggested.