SIGN REVERSAL OF THE LINEAR ELECTROOPTIC EFFECT IN THE CHIRAL NEMATIC PHASE

The chiral nematic phase aligned with its helical axis along one preferred direction, being parallel to the confining substrates, exhibits a linear electro-optic effect when an electric field is applied normally to the substrates. The-effect is considered to be of flexoelectric origin. A sign reversal of the effects is found when the helix of the chiral nematic phase changes its handedness, thus revealing the relationship between the sign of the linear electro-optic effect and the helix handedness. Here, we presnt and discuss a simple model of this relationship.