Abstract
Propagating fingerlike solitary waves are observed in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal on application of an electric field above a threshold field . On reducing the field below the fingers recede, also as solitary waves. The velocity of the waves, which to our knowledge is the fastest observed for a liquid crystal, scales approximately as E- for E near . A simple model, which includes a layer-layer coupling term, is presented and describes much of the observed behavior.
- Received 28 August 1995
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.52.R13075
©1995 American Physical Society