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Abstract
In ferroelectric (FE) and antiferroelectric (AF) phases of chiral smectic C (Sc *) liquid crystals typical line defects like dislocations and disclinations exist. In this review a few examples of these defects will be mentioned:
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–In thick samples the anchoring conditions impose the presence of two systems of (2π)-twist disclinations (called also, ‘'unwinding lines'') near both glass plates.
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–In Sc * samples with the chevron layer structure the chevron plane is acting as a barrier to the propagation of the director deformation. Overcoming this barrier leads to the creation of so called ‘‘inversion line'’ which is π-twist disclination in the chevron plane.
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–In thicker free-standing FE or AF films the observed stripe texture was interpreted as a periodic system of director discontinuity walls starting on both free film surfaces and terminated in the volume of the film.
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–Line defects called dispirations which are combinations of layer dislocations and director disclinations were observed in AF phases.