Atomic-detail simulation studies of tilted smectics

We describe preliminary results of realistic (atomic-detail) simulation studies of tilted smectic liquid crystals. Results obtained for a one-layer freely suspended thin film of DOBAMBC in the smectic C* phase are described in detail. Our studies show unambiguously that electrostatic interactions are not required to produce tilted smectic phases, and suggest that molecular tilt in DOBAMBC is driven by the anisotropic molecular shape. We also find evidence for tilt-induced bond orientational order in our simulations.