Thresholdless and hysteretic switching in AFLC cells with polar anchoring

Using a continuum model we have found both thresholdless and hysteretic swi tching in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell in which the surfaces in duce polar anchoring. By minimizing the free energy of the system, which in cludes contributions from antiferro- and ferroelectric ordering, electrosta tic and elastic energy, we find three possible zero voltage ground states. Calculating the region of stability of each of these states leads to a phas e diagram for the system. We find that, in certain regions of the phase dia gram, the cell switches hysteretically whilst in others it exhibits thresho ldless switching.