Ferroelectric properties of smectic liquid crystal

Abstract

Thermodynamical, optical and dielectric properties of chiral smectic liquid crystal DOBAMBC were studied. It was found that the ferroelectric phase transition in DOBAMBC is of the second order, and critical exponents for 6 (order parameter), Ps (spontaneous polarization), Cp. (specific heat) were estimated. The phenomenological description of static and dynamic phenomena, connected with helix unwinding in the electric field is performed.