Electric field influence on freely suspended films of liquid crystal E10/8 with flexible core in the temperature region of smectic A — smectic C phase transition

Abstract

We present here results of our spectroellipsometric investigations of freely suspended films of chiral ferroelectric liquid crystal E10/8 around its smectic A - smectic C* phase transition. Results obtained at weak (6+8 V/cm) d.c. aligning electric field and without it display remarkable difference of E10/8 behavior in these cases. If at applied field we have standard behavior of rod-like molecules with their inclination when passing from the SmA to the SmC* phase, results with no aligning field are completely opposite. In this case the thickness of free-standing film noticeable and reversible increases. We prescribe it to stretching of flexible E10/8 molecules at increasing of ordering forces in more symmetrical SmC* phase.

Keywords:

• freely suspended film
• liquid crystal
• smectic phases
• phase transition
• ellipsometry
• electric field influence