Influence of an external electric field on structure in surface-stabilizedsmectic-C chevron cells

We use a Landau-de Gennes model to study the effect of static external elec tric fields on the director and layer structure and switching in surface st abilized smectic-C cells with uniform chevron structure. We consider unifor m switching of the whole cell and find the threshold electric field needed to switch the director from one stable state to the other stable state. The effect of temperature and cell thickness on the value of the threshold ele ctric field is studied. We also find the switching time as a function of th e strength of the applied electric field and study the director and layer s tructure during the switch.