Optical waveguide characterization of a tristable antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell
Jewell, Sharon A.; Sambles, J. Roy; Goodby, J. W.; et al.Hall, A. W.; Cowling, S. J.
Date: 19 February 2004
Article
Journal
Journal of Applied Physics
Publisher
American Institute of Physics
Publisher DOI
Abstract
The optical convergent-beam waveguide technique has been used to characterize a homogeneously aligned 3 µm cell containing a liquid crystal in the antiferroelectric phase. The director structure has been quantified with the cell at 0 V and at ±50 V dc, and three distinct states have been observed. From the optical data collected, it ...
The optical convergent-beam waveguide technique has been used to characterize a homogeneously aligned 3 µm cell containing a liquid crystal in the antiferroelectric phase. The director structure has been quantified with the cell at 0 V and at ±50 V dc, and three distinct states have been observed. From the optical data collected, it is found that the material forms a tilted-bookshelf ferroelectric structure in the presence of a suitable voltage, and the characteristic alternating (anticlinic) structure of the antiferroelectric phase when the cell is short-circuited. The biaxiality of the antiferroelectric state has been measured, and (approximately) uniaxial refractive indices, the cone angle, and layer tilt have been determined for the ferroelectric state.
Physics and Astronomy
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
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