Stimulation of the Electrohydrodynamic Instability in the Smectic a Phase

Abstract

The electrooptical properties of 4-n-octyl-4′-cyano-biphenyl (8CB) in the smectic A phase were investigated. The electrohydrodynamic instability in the smectic A phase was observed, when a small quantity of any homologue (C₇, C₈, C₉) of 4-n-alkoxyben-zoic acid was adzed to this material. After the electrical field is turned off, the stable focal-conic texture is formed. A reverse focal-conic to homeotropic transition can be as well induced by means of an electric field.