About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Paper
Constant molecular rotation at the smectic-A to smectic-C* transition in ferroelectric liquid crystals
Abstract
We present dielectric measurements extended over the frequency range from 106 to 109 Hz on a pure ferroelectric liquid crystal. In clear contrast to the generally attributed origin of the ferroelectricity in liquid crystals arising from a slowing down of the molecular rotation around the long molecular axis, we find by direct observation the corresponding dielectric relaxation unchanged at the smectic-A to smectic-C* transition. This result requires a new interpretation of a recently published degenerate four-wave-mixing experiment by Lalanne et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 3046 (1989)]. © 1990 The American Physical Society.