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Stroboscopic microscopy of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Jiuzhi Xue

Noel A. Clark

  • Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540

  • Department of Physics and Optoelectronic Computing Systems Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309

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Phys. Rev. E 48, 2043 – Published 1 September, 1993

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.48.2043

Abstract

We have studied the switching of surface-stabilized ferroelectric-liquid-crystal (SSFLC) cells using stroboscopic microscopy. We find that the switching process in the chevron-layer-shaped SSFLC’s is mediated by domains that occur at the chevron interface and that are nucleated both heterogeneously and homogeneously; that some features of the growth of the domains can be described well by existing theories; and that the peculiar terminal ‘‘speedboat’’ shape of the domains is a function of the applied electric field and the sample temperature. We examine the possible mechanisms that result in asymmetries in domain-wall velocities.

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References (29)

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. E 48, 2043– Published 1 September, 1993
  • Received 22 April 1993

© 1993 American Physical Society

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