Novel type of antiferroelectricity in the hexatic smectic IA* phase

Abstract

In the binary system of MHPOBC and another antiferroelectric liquid crystal, we have confirmed that not only the antiferroelectric smectic I_A*(SI_A*) phase but also the ferroelectric smectic I*(SI*) phase sometimes emerges below the antiferroelectric smectic C_A* phase, and that even the phase transition from SI_A* to SI* may occur on cooling. The results have been discussed in connection with the origin of SI_A* antiferroelectricity, i.e. a group of transverse dipoles interacting with one another between adjacent layers.