title: Electric-field-induced transition from helical to planar smectic structures without helix unwinding.
abstract: Previously electric-field-induced transitions from helical to planar structures in bulk liquid crystals were considered to take place with unwinding of helix. We show that the transition to the planar structure in polar smectic with frustrating interlayer interaction can occur without unwinding but through the formation of a periodic modulated structure with successive left-hand and right-hand sense of rotation in every half period. With field the amplitude of the left-right rotation decreases and a planar structure is formed. This mechanism of transition can take place in the short-pitch SmC(α)(*) phase formed as a result of frustrating interaction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, Russia.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Dolganov
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Zhilin