Study of molecular orientational states of ferroelectric liquid crystals in a surface stabilized geometry

Abstract

The molecular orientational states of homogeneously aligned, helix unwinding, chiral smectic C liquid crystals placed in a thin cell (surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals [SSFLC]) were studied. They were classified by the optical viewing conditions and the relationship between the directions of the chevron layer structure and the surface pretilt. The molecular orientational models of the states were considered and illustrated with regard to the experimental results. The models of molecular orientation give us a total understanding of the orientational states which appear in SSFLCs with parallel rubbing. Furthermore, the effect of the surface pretilt angle on the orientational and optical properties of SSFLCs is discussed.