Electroclinic effect near a smectic A–chiral smectic I transition

Abstract

The electroclinic effect in the S_A phase of (S) (4′-decyloxy-2′-hydroxybenzylidene)-4-amino(1-ethoxycarbonylethyl) cinnamate has been studied. The induced tilt angles have been measured as a function of temperature near the S_A–S*_I transition at 87°C. The response of the material to different voltages and frequencies has been analysed by using two complementary optical techniques. At low A.C. probe fields the amplitude of the induced tilt shows a relaxational behaviour which can be described by a single relaxation time. The relaxation frequencies have been found to be linear in temperature near the transition, in a similar way to the S_A–S*_C transition.