Abstract

The behavior of ANNNI (axial next-nearest neighbor Ising) model with the third nearest neighbor interaction in the presence of an external field is studied to clarify the mechanism of phase transitions occurring in antiferroelectric smectic liquid crystals. The continuous transitions driven by the external field are shown to occur from the ferrielectric phases to the ferroelectric one. By applying the results to the V-shaped response of the transmittance of light to the electric field observed by Seomun et al. [Mol. Cryst., Liq. Cryst. 303 (1997) 181], this phemonenon isconcluded to be attributed to the competition between ferroelectric and antiferroelectric interactions assisted by the weakened interlayercoupling of smectics.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call