Observation of an SmCα* phase in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal using pyroelectrics and dielectrics

Abstract

The measurements of the pyroelectric and dielectric properties as functions of frequency, bias voltage and temperature in the region of the phase transition from the SmA to phases of antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) are presented. On the basis of the results of pyroelectric and dielectric response, the nature of the SmC _α * phase in the AFLC material (R)-12OBP1M7 is being established.