A chevron model of the electroclinic effect across the S-A*-S-C* phase transition in a SSFLC

We here present a thorough model of the electroclinic effect across the S-A *-S-C* phase transition, being the first to incorporate the vertical chevro n structure. This structure has previously been observed in the S-C* phase of surface-stabiliscd FLC (SSFLC) devices, and some experimental evidence s uggests that it may be present in the electroclinic effect [1-3]. Excellent agreement is achieved when comparing this model with previous experimental results of optical tilt through the A-C* transition for a SSFLC cell with homogeneous alignment.