SMECTIC LAYER ROTATION IN ANTIFERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

Smectic layer rotation in the antiferroelectric liquid crystal upon ap plication of asymmetric pulses of electric field has been observed. Ap plication of the electric field with sawtooth waveform of more than 10 (3) cycles induces rotation of the direction of the smectic layer norm al by more than 60-degrees away from the initial alignment axis even i n the sample without surface treatment for a unidirectional alignment. This rotation is reversible, and the layer rotates in the opposite di rection upon application of pulses of electric field with opposite pol arity. This anomalous layer rotation has been tentatively interpreted to originate from the essential difference in F --> AF and AF --> F tr ansition mechanisms.