Eur. Phys. J. E 7, 23-29 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i200101102
X-ray scattering study of the electric-field-induced layer deformations of an antiferroelectric Liquid Crystal
P. Cluzeau1, P. Barois2 and H. T. Nguyen21 Laboratoire de Dynamique et Structure des Matériaux Moléculaires, UPRESA CNRS 8024, Bât. P5, UST Lille, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
2 Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Avenue A. Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France
philippe.cluzeau@univ-lille1.fr
(Received 16 July 2001 and Received in final form 7 December 2001)
Abstract
The effect of an external electric field on the local layer
structure is investigated in the
,
and
phases using X-ray diffraction. X-ray scattering and spontaneous
polarization measurements are performed under several increasing (and
decreasing) steps of AC applied voltage. The effects of the electric field
differ significantly from one phase to the other. The chevron-to-bookshelf
transition occurs abruptly at a high field value in the
phase
whereas layer deformations are more progressive and occur at lower field
values in the other phases. Comparison of the different behaviours suggests
that the destruction of the chevron structure is mainly affected by the
local molecular order.
61.10.Eq - X-ray scattering (including small-angle scattering).
61.30.Hn - Surface phenomena: alignment, anchoring, anchoring transitions, surface-induced layering, surface-induced ordering, wetting, prewetting transitions, and wetting transitions.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002
