A Chevron Model of the Electroclinic Effect across the SA*-SC* Phase Transition in a SSFLC

Abstract

We here present a thorough model of the electroclinic effect across the SA*-SC* phase transition, being the first to incorporate the vertical chevron structure. This structure has previously been observed in the SC* phase of surface-stabilised FLC (SSFLC) devices, and some experimental evidence suggests that it may be present in the electroclinic effect [1–3]. Excellent agreement is achieved when comparing this model with previous experimental results of optical tilt through the A-C* transition for a SSFLC cell with homogeneous alignment.