POLARIZATION REVERSAL PROCESS AND TRANSIENT LIGHT-SCATTERING IN POLYMERIC FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

Two types of electrooptic effects, a transient scattering mode (TSM) e ffect at the instant of polarity reversal of applied voltage and a def ormation of helical structure (DHS) effect upon applying stepwise volt age in poly[((2S,3S)-3-methyl-2-chloropentanoic acid-4',4'' -undecylox ybiphenyl ester)methylsiloxane] (P3M2CPUOB) have been studied. The res ponse times of the TSM and DHS effects decrease with increasing applie d field and temperature. A stripe pattern parallel to the smectic laye r has been observed at the instant of polarity reversal. This stripe p attern has been maintained after removal of pulse voltage. Characteris tics of the optical switching utilizing this stripe pattern and the DH S effect have been discussed.