Effect of electric field on the structure of the ferroelectric chevron smectics C*
Abstract
We study the director orientation and variation of the layered structure of the chevron ferroelectric smectic C* in a bounded cell in presence of an external electric field. The spatial distribution of the director was calculated in systems possessing the orientational bistability. We analyze the transition between two equilibrium configurations in weak electric fields when the magnitude and direction of the field are changed. The transition has the form of a hysteresis loop. The value of the threshold field leading to the reorientation of the director was estimated. The variation of the layered structure occurs in strong fields when the contribution of the quadratic term of the field to the free energy is essential. In this case the spatial and orientational structure of smectic C* was obtained for different ratios between the principal values of the permittivity tensor. It was shown that in some cases the increase of the external field should lead to the transition from the chevron to the "bookshelf" structure.
About the Authors
V. P. Romanov
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Department of Physics
Saint Petersburg
S. V. Ulyanov
St. Petersburg Institute Commerce and Economics
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg
K. G. Chernyak
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Department of Physics
Saint Petersburg
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Review
For citations:
Romanov V.P., Ulyanov S.V., Chernyak K.G. Effect of electric field on the structure of the ferroelectric chevron smectics C*. Nanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. 2011;2(4):78-99. (In Russ.)
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