Electrooptical Spectroscopy of Free-Standing Films of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

The electrooptical spectra of a ferroelectric liquid crystal, DOBAM BC, have been studied in free-standing films of various thickness about one helical pitch. It is found that there are two relaxation modes in the films thicker than one helical pitch. The relaxation frequency of the faster mode is less influenced by thickness of film, but that of slower mode decreases with thickness of film. We have also studied electrooptical spectra by varying temperature. The obtained spectra are discussed by those calculated theoretically for phase mode in a finite size system along helical axis.