This project is aimed at significantly increasing our understanding of ho redued symmetry and confinement affect liquid crystalline behavior. A wide battery of experimental tools will be utilized for these studies including static and dynamic light scattering, dielectric relaxation, magnetic and electric birefringence and other electroceptic measurements, magnetic susceptometry, atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. A variety of phenomena related to novel molecules, and in particular to the synclinic and anticlinic phases will be included in the study. Another area will include a study of liquid crystals in confined (porous) geometry's to examine novel electrooptic phenomena for confined chiral molecules, the effects of confinement on elasticity, and the roles of correlation length and pore size on the nematic-isotropic phase transition. %%% The impact of this integrated research and education project will be significant. The behavior of complex liquid crystalline phses in confined geometry's is of particular interest as the information technologies utilizing these materials e.g., for novel display devices, continue to emphasize improved resolution and enhanced stability. Student training in this important area will enhance employment opportunities in the job market thereby facilitating technology transfer and enhancing the country's technological infrastructure. ***
