Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.304, 321-321, 1997
Influence of the Azimuthal Anchoring Energy on the Smectic Layer Formation in Ferroelectric Liquid-Crystals
We have investigated the influence of surface treatment on the memory angle Theta(m) in chevron FLC-cells. Surface anisotropy with different azimuthal anchoring energies was produced either by illumination or by rubbing of a PVA layer containing an azo dye. Due to the low pretilt angle (Theta(p) <2 degrees), we suppose that the measured value of Theta(m) is governed by the tilt angle delta of the smectic layers. A model is presented which relates the equilibrium value of delta to a balance between the azimuthal anchoring energy and the bend energy of the smectic layers in the chevron structure.
Keywords:CELLS