REFLECTIVE HOMEOTROPIC MODE IN A TWISTED NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

This letter reports on a novel liquid crystal (LC) display device capa ble of achromatic reflection in a twisted homeotropic configuration us ing a chiral nematic LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. Using the elastic continuum formalism, we arrived at simulated values for each parameter of interest, including external twist, cell gap molecular ch irality for the chiral pitch, and the surface anchoring energy. The ex perimental results correspond well with the calculated expectations, e xhibiting EO properties that demonstrate excellent achromatic reflecti on, extinction, and a high contrast ratio. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)02934-9].