Study of Unwinding of the Helical Structure by Electric Field in SmC^* Phase

Abstract

A great deal of effort has been made on theoretical studies of electric field induced change of helical structure in smectic liquid crystal. It has been believed that the helical structure in SmC^* is unwound at low field. We succeed in analyze the process to helix unwinding by electric field in SmC^* and found that the complete unwinding occurs at relatively high field than one believed. We will also discuss the molecular orientation in distorted helical structure by electric field.