Applied Physics Letters · 1995 · 32 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesMaterials ScienceCrystal StructureOptical MaterialsOpticsCrystal SymmetryCrystallographyLiquid Crystal MaterialsLiquid CrystalsX-ray CrystallographyX-ray DiffractionBucklingContrastElectric-field-induced ReorientationOptical ContrastSmectic Liquid CrystalsSmectic Phases
An x-ray scattering study of electroclinic layer constriction verifies the interpretation of the electroclinic effect as field-induced molecular tilt. The tilt angles deduced from the layer spacing changes are in close agreement with those from optical measurements. Layer buckling, a consequence of the layer constriction, is also observed and may be the cause of the loss of optical contrast observed in electroclinic devices.