Property of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal with Short Pitch Showing Tristable Switching

Abstract

Antiferroelecttic-like tristable switching was observed in smectic liquid crystal mixtures containing chiral dopants derived from trifluoromethylated pyranose. Result of selective reflection measurement shows that the phase showing the tristable switching is not antiferroelectric but ferroelectuic. Mechanisms for tristable switching are proposed on the basis of the ultrashort pitch. Conoscopic observation was made to see the bulk state free from surfaces.