An investigation of the field-induced ferrielectric subphases in antiferroelectric liquid crystals

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Abstract
We report results of detailed investigations of the dielectric response of two antiferroelectric liquid crystal materials over a wide range of frequencies as a function of bias voltage and of temperature. On the basis of extensive measurements of the tilt angle, the spontaneous polarization, and the optical transmittance as a function of voltage, we conclude that there appears to exist a previously undetected, new field-induced phase (referred to as the X phase) with uniform monodomain structure. This new phase seems to be stable over a wide range of applied voltages and possesses effective values of spontaneous polarization and tilt angle within 70-80% of their maximum values. Although the results appear to rule out the presence of the SmCalpha * phase, nevertheless, the new phase has some characteristics similar to those of the SmCalpha * phase. The differences between the characteristics of the two phases are detailed.