Investigations of the non-linear dielectric response in the smectic C*, smectic I* and smectic F* phases of a chiral liquid crystal

We report the variation of the linear and non-linear dielectric constants a cross the smectic A-smectic CI. smectic C*-smectic I* and smectic I*-smecti c F* transitions of a chiral liquid crystal. Clear changes are seen for bot h the parameters across all the three transitions. Interestingly, at the tr ansition between the two tilted hexatic phases. viz., smectic I* and smecti c F* phases, the non-linear dielectric constant shows a steeper variation t han the linear one indicating that it is more sensitive to the change of si gn of the bond orientational order occurring across this transition.