Resonant soft X-ray scattering study of fluidic phases with no electron density modulation*

We have demonstrated that, when operated at carbon K-edge, the linearly polarized soft X-rays can enable bond orientation sensitivity, which can be utilized to probe the otherwise forbidden peak from the helices of twist bend nematic [2], B4 helical nanofilament phase [1], and cholesterol phase. Here we show that the same principle can be used to probe blue phase [3]. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between the incoming linearly polarized X-rays, and the anisotropy in the scattering pattern. Future direction will be discussed as well [1] C. Zhu, et al. Nano. Lett. 15, 3420 (2015). [2]. C. Zhu, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., 116, 147803 (2016). [3] M. Salamonczyk, et al. Soft Matter, (2017)