Theoretical investigation into the effects of polar anchoring in antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells

Citation
Nj. Mottram et Sj. Elston, Theoretical investigation into the effects of polar anchoring in antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells, PHYS REV E, 62(5), 2000, pp. 6787-6794
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW E
ISSN journal
1063651X → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Part
B
Pages
6787 - 6794
Database
ISI
SICI code
1063-651X(200011)62:5<6787:TIITEO>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
We present a theoretical investigation into the effects of polar anchoring, which induces ferroelectric ordering close to the cell surfaces, in a liqu id crystal cell containing an antiferroelectric liquid crystalline material . Our model includes effects due to finite polar and nonpolar anchoring, qu adrupolar ordering and polarization self interaction. By minimizing the fre e energy of the system, we find parameter domains in which multiple zero-vo ltage solutions are stable. We find that these solutions may undergo thresh oldless or hysteretic switching depending on the parameter values. In two i nstances, the presence of quadrupolar ordering or weak anchoring means that the cell must first be printed into the thresholdless state through a disc ontinuous transition from an initial antiferroelectric state.