Electroclinic effect above the smectic-A–smectic-C/emph>transition

Abstract
The critical behavior of the electroclinic effect above the transition from the smectic-A to the chiral smectic-C* phase has been studied using the experimental geometry of a surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid-crystal cell. The value of the tilt susceptibility exponent γ is found to be 1.04±0.05, consistent with the mean-field description of this transition.