Temperature gradient-cooled smectic A phase orientation and its effects on Cl orientation in ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

The temperature gradient cooling of ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) confined to a closed long narrow rectilinear space causes the molecules constituting the smectic layers to acquire significant movement. The ordinary layer structure of the SmA phase consequently undergoes deformation which in turn determines the mode of the SmA SmC* phase transition. SmA stripe-shaped texture was found to result from molecular movement only when the direction of the temperature gradient is the same as the rubbing direction. For FLCs whose SmA temperature range exceeds 20 C, the SmA phase undergoes virtually defect-free C1 orientation without change to C2 orientation, when the direction of the temperature gradient is opposite that of rubbing. Defect-free C2 orientation is possible irrespective of the SmA temperature range in temperature gradient cooling. C1 and C2 orientations may combine with no zigzag defects through the use of such FLCs.