Symmetry-breaking effect of interfacial interactions on electro-optical properties of liquid crystals

We show for the first time that the asymmetry comparable to the weak anchorage in anisotropic interfacial interactions between two surface layers of liquid crystals can produce a novel electro-optic effect. The effect depends on the polarity of an external electric field E, but the corresponding phase shift has ${\mathit{E}}^2$ dependence. In a simple geometry with homogeneous boundary conditions, we demonstrate that this polar effect is directly proportional to the difference in the anchoring strengths, and estimate the difference between two aligning polymer layers.