Continuous evolution from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric state in chiral smectics

Continuous evolution of polar properties from ferro- to antiferro- has been observed in binary mixtures. Pure components exhibit antiferroelectric or ferroelectric smectic phases. The static dielectric constant in antiferroel ectric-like smectic phase increases continuously upon increasing the ferroe lectric component concentration. This behavior could be attributed to chang es of the strength of azimuthal tilt angle correlations leading to a frustr ated state. In materials with frustrated phase ferroelectricity can be enfo rced by strong boundary conditions in thin cell. The switching behavior fou nd in thin cells was similar to that observed in thresholdless antiferroele ctrics.