Antiferroelectric Chiral Smectic Phases Responsible for the Trislable Switching in MHPOBC

Abstract

At least two antiferroelectric liquid crystalline phases were discovered in MHPOBC. These phases appear below the usual ferroelectric Sm C * phase. Because of the alternation of the molecular tilt directions as well as the dipole orientations in successive layers, the optic axis is along the layer normal. This strong stabilization along the layer normal brings about the so-called third stable state responsible for the tristable switching. The antiferroelectric structure was strongly supported by selective reflections in oblique incidence; a full-pitch band does not appear in the antiferroelectric phases, while it does appear in the ferroelectric phase.