EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ON THE STRUCTURE OF CHOLESTERIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

Abstract

Electric or magnetic fields acting on the anisotropy of the electric or magnetic susceptibility exert torques within a liquid crystal which may compete with the elastic torques determining its internal structure. A general method is presented for calculating the structural changes thus produced. Two examples are given, and the field strength for the effects is estimated to be 10⁵ V/cm or 10⁵ G. Two experiments are suggested to test the theory.