Linear Electroclinic Effect in a Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystal

Abstract
A tilt θ of the optic axis linear in transverse electric field was observed in a surface-stabilized chiral nematic liquid crystal. The electroclinic constant dθdE was found to exhibit significant pretransitional behavior on approaching the nematic-smectic-A transition temperature from above. A simple theoretical discussion involving coupled order parameters is presented.