Molecular Theory for Ferroelectric-Antiferroelectric Phase Transition of Liquid Crystals

Abstract

A molecular theoretical model is used to show that asymmetry of molecular potential due to head-tail configuration of molecules contributes to stabilize the AF phase which is one of the intermediate phases between ferroelectric Sm-C^* and antiferroelectric Sm-C_A^* phase. Further in the present study we extend the model and discuss the contribution of intralayer fluctuation of molecular direction to the stability of the intermediate phases.