For more than one decade, were the only three confirmed commensurate SmC* variant phases with periodicities less than or equal four layers. In 2006, employing ellipsometry and resonant X-ray diffraction (RXRD), our research team first discovered a new liquid crystal mesophase having a six-layer periodicity in one ternary mixture which includes one sulfur-containing compound. From our ellipsometric results, this phase showed antiferroelectric-like optical response. This novel discovery inspired renewed interest to search for liquid crystal mesophases with commensurate periodicities greater than four layers. Soon after, another mesophase having a six-layer structure and showing a ferrielectric-like dielectric response, instead, was uncovered by RXRD measurements on a different binary mixture which has one bromine-containing compound. Meanwhile mesophases having a 5-, 8-, 12- or 15-layer periodicity were reported. However, numerous questions remain to be addressed associated with these unusual reported phases. Theoretical models giving rise to mesophases with periodicities greater than four layers have been developed; but, to date, none of them have provided satisfactory explanations of all the physical phenomena related to the mesophases exhibiting a six-layer structure. Moreover, the question “what is the source of long-range interactions between liquid-like smectic layers, which are responsible for establishing mesophases with long periodicities and mean-field behavior of the smectic-A–smectic-C transition?” remains unanswered for more than three decades.

十多年来， 是唯一三个周期小于或等于四层的SmC *变异相称相。2006年，我们的研究小组采用椭圆偏振和X射线共振衍射（RXRD）技术，首次发现了一种新的液晶中间相，该中间相在一种三元混合物中具有六层周期性，该三元混合物包含一种含硫化合物。根据我们的椭偏测量结果，该相显示出类似反铁电的光学响应。这个新颖的发现激发了人们重新寻找具有大于四层的相应周期性的液晶中间相的兴趣。不久之后，另一种具有六层结构并显示出类似铁电介质响应的中间相通过另一种含一种含溴化合物的二元混合物的RXRD测量被发现。同时，中间相具有5、8，报告了12或15层的周期性。但是，与这些不寻常的报告阶段相关的许多问题仍有待解决。已经开发出产生周期大于四层的中间相的理论模型。但是，迄今为止，它们都没有对与呈现六层结构的中间相有关的所有物理现象提供令人满意的解释。此外，问题“什么是液体状近晶层之间长距离相互作用的来源，这些层负责建立具有长周期性的近晶相和近晶A-近晶C跃迁的平均场行为？” 三十多年来仍未得到答复。已经开发出产生周期大于四层的中间相的理论模型。但是，迄今为止，它们都没有对与呈现六层结构的中间相有关的所有物理现象提供令人满意的解释。此外，问题“什么是液体状近晶层之间的长距离相互作用的源头，它们负责建立具有长周期性的近晶相和近晶A-近晶C跃迁的平均场行为？” 三十多年来仍未得到答复。已经开发出产生周期大于四层的中间相的理论模型。但是，迄今为止，它们都没有对与呈现六层结构的中间相有关的所有物理现象提供令人满意的解释。此外，问题“什么是液体状近晶层之间的长距离相互作用的源头，它们负责建立具有长周期性的近晶相和近晶A-近晶C跃迁的平均场行为？” 三十多年来仍未得到答复。问题“液体状近晶层之间长距离相互作用的源头是什么，这些层间相互作用建立了具有长周期的中间相和近晶-A-近晶-C跃迁的平均场行为？” 三十多年来仍未得到答复。问题“液体状近晶层之间长距离相互作用的源头是什么，这些层间相互作用建立了具有长周期的中间相和近晶-A-近晶-C跃迁的平均场行为？” 三十多年来仍未得到答复。