Theory of layer structure in ferroelectric liquid crystal devices in applied electric fields.

Access to files

Full-text and supplementary files are not available from Manchester eScholar. Full-text is available externally using the following links:

Abstract

The authors propose a model for the free energy of a ferroelec. liq. crystal formed by cooling a sample from the smectic-A phase between parallel substrates. Under these circumstances the smectic layers may deform into V-shaped structures known as chevrons. Application of a strong elec. field causes the layers to return to a flat shape, but this can occur in a no. of ways. In the model presented here, it is a parameter related to the layer compression modulus that is the principal factor in detg. the nature of the field-induced transition from chevrons to flat layers. When this parameter is large, the transition is sudden, but when it is small the chevron first takes on a rounded form before flattening. At intermediate values the tip of the chevron first flattens, and then this flat region gradually grows to encompass the entire layer. [on SciFinder (R)]

Keyword(s)

Liquid crystals (ferroelec. theory of layer structure in ferroelec. liq. crystal devices in applied elec. fields) Ferroelectric materials (liq.-crystal theory of layer structure in ferroelec. liq. crystal devices in applied elec. fields) Electric field effects Free energy Liquid crystal displays (theory of layer structure in ferroelec. liq. crystal devices in applied elec. fields)

Bibliographic metadata

Institutional metadata

Record metadata