Molecular dipoles and tilted smectic formation: a Monte Carlo study.

We investigate the possibility of forming a tilted smectic liquid crystal phase by suitably positioning two permanent dipoles in a rodlike molecule. We show, using Monte Carlo simulations, that a tilted smectic is formed from ellipsoidal Gay-Berne particles with two off-center outboard dipoles when these are directed along or at 60 degrees from the rod axis where they are located, but not when they are perpendicular to it. The properties of the phases obtained are studied in some detail.