Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

A review of the ferroelectricity in liquid crystals is given, beginning with a discussion of the symmetry properties allowing a macroscopic polarization in some of the more ordered liquid crystal phases. The fundamental mechanisms behind the dipolar ordering are discussed in some detail. The two linear electric effects, ferro- and flexo-electricity, give rise to completely different phenomena. In the smectic C phase there is one ferroelectric coefficient and nine flexoelectric ones, giving independent contributions to the polarization of the medium. We further discuss helical and non-helical structures, doped and intrinsic infinite-pitch ferroelectrics and, finally, the rich potential of liquid crystal ferroelectrics aligned in the »book-shelfgeometry» for fast electro-optic devices.