Electro-optic response of the anticlinic, antiferroelectric liquid-crystal phase of a biaxial bent-core molecule with tilt angle near 45

Michi Nakata, Dong Chen, Renfan Shao, Eva Korblova, Joseph E. Maclennan, David M. Walba, and Noel A. Clark
Phys. Rev. E 85, 031704 – Published 16 March 2012
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Abstract

We describe the unusual electro-optic response of a biaxial bent-core liquid crystal molecule that exhibits an anticlinic, antiferroelectric smectic phase (Sm-CAPA) with a molecular tilt angle close to 45°. In the ground state, the sample shows very low birefringence. A weak applied electric field distorts the antiferroelectric ground state, inducing a small azimuthal reorientation of the molecules on the tilt cone. This results in only a modest increase in the birefringence but an anomalously large (∼40°) analog rotation of the extinction direction. This unusual electro-optic response is shown to be a consequence of the molecular biaxiality.

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  • Received 10 December 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.85.031704

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Michi Nakata1,*, Dong Chen1,†, Renfan Shao1, Eva Korblova2, Joseph E. Maclennan1, David M. Walba2, and Noel A. Clark1,‡

  • 1Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0390, USA
  • 2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA

  • *Deceased.
  • Dong.Chen@colorado.edu
  • Noel.Clark@colorado.edu

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Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 3 — March 2012

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