Resonant soft X-ray scattering study of twist bend nematic, cholesteric and blue phases.

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] and helical nanofilament phase [1]. Here we show that the same principle can be used to probe blue phase and chiral nematic phase. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between the incoming linearly polarized X-rays, and the anisotropy in the scattering pattern. [1] C. Zhu, et al. \textit{Nano. Lett.} \textbf{15}, 3420 (2015). [2]. C. Zhu, et al. \textit{Phys. Rev. Lett.,} \textbf{116}, 147803 (2016).