Related resources
Full-text held externally
Search for item elsewhere
University researcher(s)
Academic department(s)
The realignment of an achiral smectic C chevron structure with applied field.
Findon, Alison; Gleeson, Helen F.; Lydon, John E
Liquid Crystals. 2002;29:79-85.
Access to files
Full-text and supplementary files are not available from Manchester eScholar. Full-text is available externally using the following links:
Full-text held externally
Abstract
This is the second of two papers describing the study of a conventional display cell filled with an achiral smectic C phase. In the first paper the X-ray diffraction study of the smectic layer alignment in the cell in its initial \"off\" state was described. The mesogen used has pos. dielec. anisotropy and the cell surfaces were treated conventionally to give a parallel homogeneous alignment. The X-ray results were interpreted in terms of a complex three-component chevron pattern with two outer arms and a central, tilted bookshelf region. This paper concerns the change in optical texture of the cell as the applied field is increased. There is a sequence of reversible texture changes before the final irreversible breakdown of the structure. The optical data are consolidated by electrooptic and field-dependent X-ray data. The changes in optical texture were interpreted in terms of a sequence of four distinct realignment processes as the field is increased: (1) realignment of the mols. within the existing layer structure by rotation of the director around the smectic C cones; (2) growth of the two outer chevron arms at the expense of the central bookshelf region; (3) a progressive modification of the domain structure; (4) an abrupt, drastic, irreversible realignment at high field with complete breakdown of the original chevron structure to a quasi-homeotropic structure. [on SciFinder (R)]
Keyword(s)
Bibliographic metadata
- Related website