Interaction between flc:s and electric fields: Flexoelectric effects and surfaces

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Abstract
In ferroelectric liquid crystals there are besides the ferroelectric polarization a number of different flexoelectric interactions, but as in nematics, these effects are difficult to study experimentally. Here the interpretation of the flexoelectric effects will be discussed. The flexoelectric energy terms are so closely connected to the boundary conditions that it is questionable if and when it is possible to give the coefficients bulk values. Why not then accept some of them as linear interaction terms between the boundary conditions and the electric field? The self energy of the ferro- and flexoelectric vector fields will give contributions to the elastic energy and to the elastic behavior of ferroelectric liquid crystals. Could there also be similar effects in nematic liquid crystals?