Transient Stripe Texture at Polarization Reversal in Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Switching mechanism of thick cell of ferroelectric liquid crystals has been studied by means of light scattering measurement and polarizing microscope observation adopting stroboscope technique. The transmitted light through the cell at the instant of polarity reversal of applied voltage has been diffracted by the formation of periodical stripe texture. The period of the stripe texture do not change with time elapse. This period is independent of temperature and decreases with increasing applied voltage. The oblique angle from smectic layer incrases with applied voltage and is not concerned with the tilt angle.