Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Field Induced Antiferroelectric-Ferroelectric Phase Transition

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The light scattering measurement and the polarized microscopic observation of field induced phase transition between antiferroelectric (AF) and ferroelectric (F) phases have been performed in a uniformly aligned cell. The light scattering is confirmed to be diffraction by the periodical change in refractive index in the stripe domains of AF and F phases. In F → AF phase transition, the nucleation of AF domain occurs at interfaces between liquid crystal and spacer edges and AF domain grows away from spacers. On the other hand, in AF → F phase transition, discrete F domains homogeneously appear and grow throughout the cell. The rotation of smectic layer is also observed under the application of an asymmetric voltage. This rotation is originated from the asymmetry of the polarity reversal of the applied voltage.