In-Plane Switching of Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystals with Different Dielectric Anisotropies

详细

The electro-optic response in planar-aligned chiral nematic liquid crystals in an electric field oriented perpendicular to the helical structure axis is studied as a function of the magnitude and sign of the dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal in order to understand the mechanism of this electro-optic effect. The main contribution to the electro-optic response is shown to be due to the interaction of the electric field with the dielectric anisotropy. The flexoelectric effect also contributes to the electro-optic response, but its magnitude is much smaller.