Field-induced layer rotation in the SmA and SmC^* phases of chiral smectic liquid crystals

Abstract

Reversible smectic layer rotation by applying asymmetric voltage pulses has been investigated in the chiral smectic C phase. The smectic layer rotated over 180° and the rotation direction is dependent on the polarity of applied pulses and upon applying the exactly same pulses, the rotation direction of R-configuration is opposite to that of S-configuration. It is found that a threshold voltage exists in the smectic layer rotation in the chiral smectic C phase. Moreover, the layer rotation have been investigated even in the smectic A phase. In this case, the layer rotation is also reversible.