Optical investigations in the various phases of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal

John Philip, Jean René Lalanne, Jean Paul Marcerou, and Gilles Sigaud
Phys. Rev. E 52, 1846 – Published 1 August 1995
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Abstract

We report detailed results of optical rotatory power (ORP), slective reflection (SR), refractive index anisotropy (RIA), and anisotropic Rayleigh scattering (ARS) measurements in the antiferroelectric liquid crystal, 4-(1-methylheptyl-oxycarbonyl) phenyl-4octyloxy phenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOBC). The ORP in Sm-A and Sm-Cα* phases has been found to be zero or at least very weak compared to ordinary liquids with strongly chiral molecules. No helical pitch is observed in the Sm-A, Sm-Cα* and Sm-Cγ* phases in the range 200–2200 nm. The combined use of ORP and SR allows the precise determination of the tilt angle of the smectic-C phases. Obtained values are found to be in good agreement with both theoretical calculations and experimental results obtained from RIA. Moreover, ARS reveals the local biaxial character of the Sm-CA* phase, while the absence of critical behavior of the Sm-A∥Sm-Cα* phase transition is a direct proof of the lack of biaxiality in the Sm-Cα* phase.

  • Received 1 March 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.52.1846

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

John Philip, Jean René Lalanne, Jean Paul Marcerou, and Gilles Sigaud

  • Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, CNRS, Avenue A. Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France

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Issue

Vol. 52, Iss. 2 — August 1995

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