1C02 Alignment and molecular orientational distribution of a smectic liquid crystal showing V-shaped electro-optic response

Abstract

Alignment and orientational molecular distribution are investigated for a ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal showing the V-shaped electro-optic response by polarized Raman scattering measurements. Two domains with different alignments (designated by domain 1 and 2) were observed after long-term switching operation. The Raman scattering measurements showed that these domains have a difference in the molecular orientational distribution at the tip of the letter-V. Liquid crystal molecules distributes on tilt cone surface broadly in the domain 1. Meanwhile, they are oriented in one direction in the domain 2. These results are explained in terms of the interaction between the liquid crystal molecule and the alignment layer surface.