Influence of the Azimuthal Anchoring Energy on the Smectic Layer Formation in Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

We have investigated the influence of surface treatment on the memory angle θ_m in chevron FLC-cells. Surface anisotropy with different azimuthal anchoring energies was produced either by illumination or by rubbing of a PVA layer containing an azo dye. Due to the low pretilt angle (θ_p <2°), we suppose that the measured value of θ_m is governed by the tilt angle δ of the smectic layers. A model is presented which relates the equilibrium value of δ to a balance between the azimuthal anchoring energy and the bend energy of the smectic layers in the chevron structure.