Abstract
Order parameters and phenomenological theory for both high- and low-symmetry biaxialnematic phases are presented and it is predicted that the chiral low-symmetry biaxial phasemust be ferroelectric. This conclusion is based on general symmetry arguments and on theresults of the Landau–de Gennes theory. The microscopic mechanism of the ferroelectricordering in this chiral biaxial phase is illustrated using a simple molecular model based ondispersion interactions between biaxial molecules of low symmetry. Similar to the chiralsmectic C* phase, the ferroelectricity in the chiral biaxial nematic phase is improper, i.e.,polarization is not a primary order parameter and is not determined by dipolarinteractions. Ferroelectric ordering in biaxial nematics may be found, in principle, inmaterials composed of chiral analogues of the tetrapod molecules which are known toexhibit biaxial phases.
Published Version
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