Competing polarization effects in a homeotropically aligned smectic liquid crystal

G. McKay, K.R. MacKenzie, N.J. Mottram

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examine the equilibrium configurations of a thin SmA∗liquid crystal film with its layers parallel to a lower substrate and a free upper surface. The molecules can exhibit variations in molecular tilt or twist around the smectic cone which are influenced by an in-plane electric field. We examine the competing effects of flexoelectricity and spontaneous polarization on the molecular tilt and twist. Our analysis is based upon a continuum theory for smectics which allows variation in the smectic layer spacing and the molecular tilt. For a fixed voltage the system can exhibit qualitatively different types of equilibrium profiles, depending on the relative sizes of the spontaneous polarization and flexoelectric contributions to the bulk energy. Energy and stability calculations allow us to predict physically relevant molecular configurations. These structures are closely related to synclinic and anticlinic arrangements in liquid crystal freestanding films.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-41
Number of pages6
JournalFerroelectrics
Volume309
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Keywords

  • SmA∗ liquid crystals
  • continuum theory
  • equilibrium configurations
  • polarization
  • flexoelectricity

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