Effects of Pressure on Dielectric Properties in Smectic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

We investigated the dielectric properties in smectic liquid crystals under pressure. The dielectric constant in the SmC phase is suppressed with increasing pressure. Based on the experimental results of the dispersion strength and relaxation frequency of the Goldstone mode, we conclude that the reported reduction of the dielectric constant in the SmC phase is mainly caused by a decrease in the relaxation frequency due to an increase in the rotational viscosity. In a ferroelectric liquid crystal, FLC-031(Chisso), we found the disappearance of the SmC phase at a pressure of about 300MPa on heating.