The influence of polar surface anchoring on switching in antiferroelectricliquid crystals

We present a theoretical investigation into the effects of polar anchoring in a liquid crystal cell containing an antiferroelectric liquid crystalline material. Our model includes effects due to finite polar and non-polar anc horing, quadrupolar ordering and polarization self interaction. We find tha t the presence of quadrupolar ordering or weak anchoring means that the cel l may be primed into the thresholdless state through a discontinuous transi tion from an initial antiferroelectric state.