Optical determination of flexoelectric coefficients and surface polarization in a hybrid aligned nematic cell - art. no. 021708

We present an optical study of the influence of both the flexoelectric effe ct and surface polarization on a hybrid-aligned nematic cell using the half -leaky guided mode technique. Tilt angle profiles, obtained from fits of ex perimental data (reflectivity curves) taken under applied voltages, are com pared with the ones derived by a complete theoretical model. Measurements w ith an applied alternating voltage allow the evaluation of (fie anchoring e nergy by solving the torque balance equation at the planar surface. From me asurements with static fields, the sum of flexoelectric coefficients and th e surface polarization are determined by numerical solution of Euler-Lagran ge equations.