Ferroelectric phases in a chiral bent-core smectic liquid crystal: dielectric and optical second-harmonic generation measurements
We report unambiguous evidence for ferroelectricity in a chiral bent-core liquid crystal. This evidence includes (i) a single current peak in the polarization reversal current, (ii) a strong dielectric response that is suppressed by applying a bias electric field, and (iii) strong optical second-harmonic generation in the absence of electric field even at normal incidence. We propose a phase structure that is anticlinic in tilt and ferroelectric in polar order, i.e., smectic-C(A)P(*)(F).
Gorecka
E
Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland.
Pociecha
D
Araoka
F
Link
DR
Nakata
M
Thisayukta
J
Takanishi
Y
Ishikawa
K
Watanabe
J
Takezoe
H