Abstract
In ferroelectric (FE) and antiferroelectric (AF) phases of chiral smectic C (Sc *) liquid crystals typical line defects like dislocations and disclinations exist. In this review a few examples of these defects will be mentioned: –In thick samples the anchoring conditions impose the presence of two systems of (2π)-twist disclinations (called also, ‘'unwinding lines'') near both glass plates. –In Sc * samples with the chevron layer structure the chevron plane is acting as a barrier to the propagation of the director deformation. Overcoming this barrier leads to the creation of so called ‘‘inversion line'’ which is π-twist disclination in the chevron plane. –In thicker free-standing FE or AF films the observed stripe texture was interpreted as a periodic system of director discontinuity walls starting on both free film surfaces and terminated in the volume of the film. –Line defects called dispirations which are combinations of layer dislocations and director disclinations were observed in AF phases.
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