Eur. Phys. J. E 25, 395-402 (2008)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2007-10306-1

Multistage polar switching in bent-core mesogens

S. Findeisen-Tandel¹, M. W. Schröder¹, G. Pelzl¹, U. Baumeister¹, W. Weissflog¹, S. Stern², A. Nemes², R. Stannarius² and A. Eremin<sup>2

1</sup>  Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Mühlpforte 1, D-06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
²  IEP, Abt. Nichtlineare Phänomene, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39016, Magdeburg, Germany

alexey.eremin@physik.uni-magdeburg.de

(Received 23 October 2007 / Published online 21 April 2008)

Abstract

We report a novel type of electro-optical switching in a tilted smectic phase of bent-shaped mesogens. The switching consists of a continuous stage and two bistable transitions. Detailed optical and electro-optical measurements using high-speed imaging are given and possible interpretations of the experimental results are discussed.

PACS
77.84.Nh - Liquids, emulsions, and suspensions; liquid crystals.
78.20.-e - Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films.
77.80.-e - Ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity.

Correspondence: alexey.eremin@physik.uni-magdeburg.de


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2008