Probable langevin-like director reorientation in an interface-induced disordered SmC*-like state of liquid crystals characterized by frustration between ferro- and antiferroelectricity - art. no. 015701

To clarify the thresholdless, hysteresis free V-shaped switching due to fru stration between ferro- and antiferroelectricity, we have studied a prototy pe binary mixture system. The apparent orientational order parameters, <P-2 > and <P-4>, obtained from polarized Raman scattering in thin homogeneous c ells indicate that substrate interfaces induce some randomization of local in-plane directors at the tip of the V. Their correlation lengths, xi (para llel to) approximate to 3.5 nm and xi (perpendicular to) approximate to 75 nm, have been estimated by assuming the Langevin-like reorientation. Becaus e of the much shorter xi (parallel to) and xi (perpendicular to) than the v isible light wavelength, the switching process looks uniform.