Relaxation modes in ferroelectric smectic C liquid crystals: Effects of bias field

Dielectric properties of a large spontaneous polarisation ferroelectric liq uid crystalline mixture FLC-6430 (Hoffman-LaRoche) have been studied in the SmC* and SmA phase in the frequency range 100Hz to 1MHz in planar oriented cells under the influence of varying external de bins. Several relaxation modes were observed. The effect of bias field and temperature on these rela xation modes has been investigated. The observation of a relaxation mode na mely new relaxation modes (NRM) in the high frequency range above 100 kHz h as been reported. The dielectric increment of NRM was very small (Delta eps ilon (NRM) = 5.84) as compared to the Goldstone mode (Delta epsilon (GM) = 390).