The small crystal of n-hexatriacontane was observed by a polarizing microscope in the rotator phase transition temperature region. In the temperature region, the rotator phase coexists with the solid phase (low-temperature ordered phase). The boundaries of two phases move reversibly with the temperature change. The area fractional change of the rotator phase can be described by the Debye relaxation. The relaxation time decreases and the relaxation strength increases as the sample temperature is raised. The relaxation time agrees well with that of the dynamic specific heat, which was measured in the frequency range of 0.0003 less than or equal to f/Hz less than or equal to 0.05. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.