ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ELECTROOPTIC AND DIELECTRIC PARAMETERS OFA SMECTIC-C-ASTERISK FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

A relationship between the electro-optic switching time and dielectric parameters of a S(C) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is obtained. This relationship is derived in terms of spontaneous polarization P(s ), relaxation time tau(G) and dielectric strength DELTAepsilon(G) of t he Goldstone mode. It shows clearly that the switching phenomenon in F LCs is governed by the dielectric behaviour of the Goldstone mode. Bas ed on the Landau modle, the switching time has also been related to th e material parameters of the FLC.