Preparation of Monodomain Cells of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals and Their Evaluation with an Optical Microscope

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Abstract
We have observed the growing process of high quality homogeneous cells directly in a high magnetic field by using a microscope with an elongated tube of 846 mm in length. For improving the cell quality, the application of the magnetic field is the most effective in comparison with other methods, such as the application of an electric field, SiO oblique evaporation, rubbing, etc. Factors affecting the cell quality were also studied by counting the number of characteristic defects that are always produced during the growing process. As expected, the cell quality is improved when the magnetic field is high, the cooling rate is low, the temperature control is accurate, the cell is thick, the sample is passed through the membrane filter and when the annealing time elapses. For the zone-refined sample, however, the cell quality is lowered unexpectedly; the reason for this is discussed.