Jiuzhi Xue

Surface orientation transitions in surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal structures

We provide direct evidence, using simultaneously total internal reflection and polarized optical microscopy, for the existence of two interface stabilized director n‐polarization P orientation states at a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC)‐solid interface. The states are separated by a first‐order orientation transition, having n nearly parallel to the surface, opposite orientations of the component of P normal to the surface, with the state having P directed into the FLC being of lower energy. Any unswitched layer is less than 20 A in thickness.

Local layer structure of the steep field line defect in surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells

Abstract The local layer structure of one type of DC electric field induced line defect observed in CS-1014 surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal electro-optic cells has been determined using X-ray scattering and optical microscopy. The characterized defect is a high contrast defect line distinct from other field lines in that a defect mirror image is not produced when the DC field direction is reversed.