Polarization and dielectric properties of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal

The spontaneous polarization and dielectric properties of a new antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) exhibiting several intermediate phases between the SmCA and SmC* phases are investigated. A low frequency ferri Goldstone mode and a higher frequency ferro Goldstone mode have been observed over a certain range of temperatures. The effect of d.c. bias voltage on these modes is examined. The results confirm the existence of an FiLC phase with q(T) > 1/2 between SmCgamma and SmC*. These also show the co-existence of the FiLC phase with SmC* over a narrow range of temperatures above the FiLC phase. The phase sequence for this material is found to contain SmCA, SmCgamma, FiLC, (FiLC coexisting with SmC*), SmC*, SmA phases on heating and SmA- SmC* SmCgamma- SmCA- phases on cooling.