FIELD-INDUCED DOMAINS IN ANTIFERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Domain structures at held induced phase transitions of antiferroelectr ic liquid crystals were investigated by dielectric, electrooptic and l ight deflection experiments under electric bias fields. Characteristic light deflection phenomena indicating the coexistence of different re fractive index domains were observed in antiferroelectric, ferroelectr ic and ferrielectric phases. Above all, in the chiral smectic C-beta phase (SmCbeta) being considered ferroelectric, the light deflections appeared at zero field after removing the bias and also in two field ranges at which the dielectric constant and the apparent molecular til t angle showed step-wise changes. Possible models for the coexisting d omains at these induced phase transitions were discussed.