A BACKFLOW EFFECT IN SMECTIC-C LIQUID-CRYSTALS

This paper discusses the influence upon a smectic C liquid crystal cel l of backflow induced by the relaxation of alignment following the rem oval of a strong electric or magnetic field. Our study, based upon a r ecently proposed continuum theory, concentrates upon the homeotropic c onfiguration in which the smectic layers are parallel to the boundary plates, but some consideration is also given to the bookshelf geometry . Although the governing equations prove to be rather complex, some pr ogress is possible analytically by repeating an approximation made in the corresponding problem for a nematic.